Fisheries Management Plan for Black Hills Streams 2015 2019 · Three stream reach classifications were created (Table 1) based on the existing natural (wild) trout populations and

Fisheries Management Plan for Black Hills Streams

2015 – 2019

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Division

Gene Galinat Greg Simpson Bill Miller Jake Davis Michelle Bucholz John Carreiro Dylan Jones Stan Michals

Fisheries Management Plan for Black Hills Streams, 2015-2019

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Table of Contents

I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 3

II. Resource Descriptions ........................................................................................................... 4

Black Hills Fish Management Area ...................................................................................... 4

III. Management of Black Hills Fish Management Area Stream Fisheries ...................... 7

Classification of Trout Streams ............................................................................................. 7

Regulations .............................................................................................................................. 7

Stocking .................................................................................................................................... 8

Fish Surveys ............................................................................................................................ 8

Angler Surveys ........................................................................................................................ 9

Habitat and Angler Access .................................................................................................... 9

Fisheries Research ............................................................................................................... 12

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)........................................................................................... 12

Fish Health ............................................................................................................................. 13

IV. Issues ........................................................................................................................................ 13

V. Goal, Objectives, Strategies ................................................................................................ 15

VI. Operational Guide for Black Hills Stream Fish Management ..................................... 16

Management guidelines ....................................................................................................... 17

Stream Reach Management – Wild Fish (WF) ................................................................ 18

Stream Reach Management – Hatchery Supplemented (HS) ....................................... 19

Stream Sampling .................................................................................................................. 19

VII. Stream Management Index .................................................................................................. 21

References ........................................................................................................................................ 60

Appendices ........................................................................................................................................ 62

Rapid Creek Watershed .................................................................................................................. 68

Spearfish Creek Watershed ........................................................................................................... 80


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Fisheries Management Plan for Black Hills Streams, 2015 - 2019

I. Introduction The purpose of this plan is to guide fisheries management activities of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department (SDGFP) in the Black Hills Fish Management Area (BHFMA) streams over the next five years. This plan is directly related to the Statewide Fisheries (SDGFP 2014a) and BHFMA (SDGFP 2014b) Strategic Plans. However, while those previously mentioned plans deal with issues at a statewide and BHFMA level, respectively, this management plan focuses on issues, identified by staff, anglers, and other stakeholders, specific to BHFMA streams. Section II of this plan contains a description of the area and section III provides an overview of Black Hills stream management practices and activities. Section IV contains a list of issues identified by staff during work activities and through contacts with angler groups and other stakeholders. Section V contains a goal statement, objectives and strategies identified to address specific issues. The final section is an operational approach that will direct specific work details such as stocking and sampling. This plan draws from previous Black Hills fisheries management plans and surveys. The first management plan on the Black Hills fisheries was completed in 1965 (SDGFP unpublished). The 1965 plan focused on cold water fish management and addressed both streams and reservoirs in the Black Hills area using The Stream and Lake Inventory and Classification in the Black Hills of South Dakota (Stewart and Thilenius 1964). In this document, streams were classified by habitat (i.e. temperature, periods of no flow and pollution) and Spearfish Creek was used as the reference stream when classifying all others. An update to this plan was completed in 1984. The 1984 plan was a list of policies explaining how different types of waters (streams and reservoirs) will be managed but did not give specific objectives or actions on how these policies would be carried out for individual waters. Another Black Hills stream management plan was completed in 1993 (Erickson et al. 1993). This plan utilized previous plans and the Black Hills Stream Inventory and Classification 1984 and 1985 (Ford 1988) and combined them into a strategic and operational plan with specific objectives and actions (approaches) for streams using a new classification system. The classifications were changed drastically from the 1964 plan, in that, waters were classified by natural trout populations found during sampling efforts in 1984 and 1985. In 1993, SDGFP entered a new form of resource management with the development of the Systematic Approach to Management (SAM; SDGFP 1994). During inception of the SAM process, SDGFP developed the following mission statement: “The Wildlife Division will manage South Dakota’s wildlife and fisheries resources and their associated habitats for their sustained and equitable use and for the benefit, welfare, and enjoyment of the citizens of this state and its visitors”. The SAM plan was for internal use and intended to provide general and strategic guidance through 1995 and 1996. This plan addressed resource management, such as stream and river management, on a statewide basis. While some objectives and strategies covered in the plan may have been achieved, the strategic plan was never fully operationalized. This document is intended to be a dynamic tool that guides fisheries resource management, but does not limit management needed when immediate changes or


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opportunities that are consistent with the plans goals and objectives are identified. Additions and updates to the Stream Management Index (SMI) will be ongoing with a written update completed every five years to maintain this as an adaptive document for both managers and the public. Input from the public will continue to be a valuable part of this process.

II. Resource Descriptions

Black Hills Fish Management Area The BHFMA includes all waters within the following boundary: beginning at the junction of the SD-WY state line and the Redwater River (inclusive) to US 85, then south on US 85 to I-90, then southeast on I-90 to US 16T (Campbell St.) in Rapid City, then south on US 16T (Campbell St.) to SD 79, then south on SD 79 to Maverick Junction near Hot Springs, then west on US 18 to Edgemont, then northwest along the Burlington Northern Railroad to the SD-WY state line, then north along the state line to the Redwater River (Figure 1). For this management plan, streams and management designations are listed in the Stream Management Index by watershed. The area is separated into eighteen different subunits or watersheds that lie entirely or partially within its boundary (Figure 2). These subunits are designated using either 8, 10 or 12 digit hydrologic units codes (HUCs; Appendix 4) created by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).


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Figure 1. Black Hills Fish Management Area, South Dakota.


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Figure 2. Watersheds within the Black Hills Fish Management Area, South Dakota. Unshaded areas may contain intermittent streams, but often lack viable fisheries.


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III. Management of Black Hills Fish Management Area Stream Fisheries

Classification of Trout Streams

Data from stream fish surveys conducted in summer and fall of 1984 and 1985 were used to develop criteria for classifying trout populations in BHFMA streams and, in some areas, reaches within streams. This classification system is still used today. Two hundred and twenty stations were sampled on 65 streams during 1984 and 1985. Three stream reach classifications were created (Table 1) based on the existing natural (wild) trout populations and fish sizes deemed to be acceptable to anglers. Class 1 stream reaches support the highest number of adult wild trout. Class 2 stream reaches are intermediate in adult wild trout numbers and are occasionally supplemented with hatchery trout. Class 3 supports the lowest number of adult wild trout and often requires hatchery stockings to maintain fishable populations. Streams were sampled in 100 meter sites and since an entire stream could not be sampled, locality and distance of stream reach classifications needed to be determined. This was accomplished by: 1) splitting the distance between sites with different classifications on a stream and 2) adding one kilometer of stream distance to the first and last stations sampled on a stream. Table 1. Current classifications for Black Hills Fish Management Area streams, South

Dakota.

Brown Trout Fisheries -- based on number of fish in excess of eight inches.

Class BR1 number of wild brown trout exceeds 150 per acre

Class BR2 number of wild brown trout ranges from 25 to 150 per acre

Class BR3 number of wild brown trout is less than 25 per acre

Brook Trout Fisheries-- based on number of fish in excess of eight inches

Class BK1 number of wild brook trout exceeds 150 per acre

Class BK2 number of wild brook trout ranges from 25 to 150 per acre

Class BK3 number of wild brook trout is less than 25 per acre

Rainbow Trout Fisheries -- based on number of fish in excess of eight inches

Class RB1 number of wild rainbow trout exceeds 25 per acre

Class RB2 number of wild rainbow trout is less than or equal to 25 per acre

Regulations Regulations on stream reaches over the past 30 years have been similar with the intent of most regulations being to limit harvest of trout in streams, or at least reduce harvest of larger trout. Creel regulations on streams throughout the area are currently limited to two trout regulations. The standard regulation is five trout (all species combined) daily. The daily limit may include no more than one trout greater than 14 inches in length. There are also three catch and release areas, Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam (including the stilling basin, approximately two miles in length), Rapid Creek in Rapid City from Park Drive to Jackson Boulevard (approximately one mile in length), and Spearfish Creek from


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Homestake Hydro Plant No. 2 downstream to the face of the Maurice Intake Dam (rainbow trout only, approximately one mile in length). The use or possession of live baitfish is prohibited on all streams. Creek chubs, however, may be angled from streams within the BHFMA for use anywhere in the state where live baitfish are permitted. In the catch and release areas only artificial lures are allowed and the use and possession of organic baits are prohibited within 100 feet of the stream. A historical synopsis of special regulations can be found in Appendix 2.

Stocking Stocking of hatchery-raised trout is an important tool for fisheries management and, from a historical context, all sport fisheries in the BHFMA are originally a product of stocking. Catchable size (11 inch) trout are stocked to maintain higher catch rates of quality length fish than are naturally found in some stream reaches and also used in some streams after extreme environmental conditions, such as in Spring Creek after the drought in the mid 2000’s (Bucholz and Wilhite 2010). Previous stocking directives for catchable trout can be traced back to the 1965 Black Hills Trout Management Policy (SDGFP unpublished). This policy specifically addressed trout stockings in accordance with the 1964 water body classifications; however, it did not take into account the wild trout populations already present. The change in stream classification in the mid 1980’s was based on the wild trout populations present in the streams. Review of SDGFP stocking records show there were still large numbers of trout stocked into streams during the early 1990’s despite the presence of wild populations. As a result of the 1993 management plan, a change in management strategies was applied that required fewer or no stockings in order to promote the natural product. Black Hills streams are classified into two management categories: wild-trout, or hatchery-supplemented (Erickson et al. 1993). Streams that routinely meet Class 1 and Class 2 specifications are usually managed as wild-trout fisheries and are not normally supplemented with hatchery trout. However, exceptions may occur where low adult size structure is present (e.g. Castle Creek), following an environmental event (e.g. drought) that negatively impacts the fish populations (e.g. Whitewood Creek), or where increased harvest may occur (i.e. campgrounds). In general, supplemental stocking are only used on stream reaches where environmental variables reduce self-sustaining trout populations or where high angling pressure may lead to excessive harvest rates (Erickson et al. 1993).

Fish Surveys Stream fish population surveys are conducted to evaluate growth, recruitment and mortality of fish populations. Fish sampling of streams first took place in the 1890’s (Everman and Cox 1896) but did not occur again until the 1950’s (Bailey and Allum 1962). Sampling became more regular in the 1970’s when state fisheries staff was hired to inventory fish populations in the BHFMA. During 1984 and 1985, an extensive project to survey stream habitat and fish populations was conducted. Subsequent fish surveys occurred in the mid 1990’s and in 2008-09. The latest stream fish surveys documented negative impacts of a recent drought when Black Hills streams experienced low water levels (Bucholz and Wilhite 2010).


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Within the BHFMA, perennial streams that support viable fisheries throughout a range of environmental conditions are considered to be primary streams (i.e. Rapid, Spearfish and Castle Creeks) Due to this, primary streams are often sampled on an annual basis. Fixed (historical) sites are normally used in the streams which generally hold Class 1 and Class 2 trout populations. Sampling of fixed sites allows for monitoring of trends over time by adding control over site characteristics such as local channel characteristics, which may influence fish abundance and sizes. All streams within the BHFMA have not been assessed. The total number of streams and stream reaches that support wild trout populations or other fish populations is not fully known. Smaller streams, tending to have Class 3 designations or no classification, are generally sampled when information is needed. This has resulted in gaps in fish population data on these types of streams. Historical fixed sites along with new sites on smaller streams will be inventoried during implementation period for this management plan.

Angler Surveys In general, in-person angler surveys on BHFMA streams are not conducted on a regular rotation, but rather when specific angler information is needed. Stream angler surveys are normally conducted during summer months and larger streams receive more effort than smaller stream surveys. These surveys are used to gather information such as angler satisfaction, angler types, and catch and harvest rates. In addition, more extensive surveys have been used to through alternative media (i.e. mail/internet) to gather specific information on stream anglers (Longmire in prep.) A number of stream angler surveys have been completed recently such as: Crow Creek (Simpson et al. 2007); Rapid Creek, Spearfish Creek, Crow Creek and Grace Coolidge walk-in Area (Simpson 2007); Spearfish Creek (Simpson 2011). Additional information collected using other human dimension tools will allow for communication between staff and users. Small group sessions made up of a cross-section of angler types have been used to gain feedback from area stream anglers. Comments from these types of collection methods can be found in Appendices 1 and 3, respectively.

Habitat and Angler Access

Over time, mining of the mineral rich region has been responsible for the existence of many local economies. Gold, silver, iron, uranium and pegmatite (to name a few) have historically been mined throughout different regions of the Black Hills for great economic benefit. Potential negative impacts of early mining from habitat alteration, sedimentation and metal toxicity have had variable long-term impacts on the area’s aquatic systems. Direct impacts from wide spread placer mining, timber cutting for mines and miners, and roads had a dramatic impact the region’s untouched aquatic systems. Other historic direct mining impacts resulted from toxic downstream releases of process solutions during operations. While signs of disturbance from these early mines and mills are hardly evident in some streams, in other areas impacts persist.

State regulations address all types of mining operations that use mechanized equipment or toxic chemicals. Extensive state regulations for mining and water quality overlay federal staking and mine permitting requirements on the national forest lands that make up much


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of the BHFMA. Because of the inherent impacts of mining on the land, state laws focus on reclamation or returning mine lands to a desirable end use.

The BHFMA has seen many environmental changes stemming from human activities since the late 1800’s.MiningRoad construction, land development and grazing have reshaped much of the Black Hills over time. The Whitewood Creek Superfund site is a good example. Millions of tons of toxic tailings from Homestake Gold Mine were deposited in the creek in Lawrence, Meade and Butte Counties. Cleanup up of the creek began in 1992 and the site was delisted as a superfund site in 1996. While mining related issues still exist in Whitewood Creek and its tributaries, the fish populations are thriving in portions of the creek and it serves as good example of recovery and rehabilitation efforts. Restoration efforts have taken place on Castle, Crow, Grace Coolidge, Rapid, Spearfish, Spring and Whitewood Creeks from 1976 to 1991. During that time, nearly 24 miles of stream were improved through the use of willow plantings, wood and rock structure placement, installation of overhead banks, and returning some streams to their original channel. A complete list of projects since 1991 is located below in Table 2.

Table 2. Stream habitat projects in the Black Hills showing location and associated cost.

Completion Location Total Cost GFP Cost Project Type

1991 Castle Creek $37,138 $8,100 Instream cover

1992 SIP project, Rapid Creek, Griffith

Instream fish habitat

1993 French Creek in CSP $41,000 $10,250 Instream fish cover, holding areas

1994 Castle Creek $55,950 $26,651 Instream cover/stream meanders(1800')

1994 SIP project, Castle Creek, Barte


1996 Deerfield valves $598,000 $75,000 Winter flow enhancement(2 to 6-8 cfs) 6.5 above 16.5 below n. fork Castle

1995 SIP Project, Rapid Creek, McKie


1996 French Creek in CSP $57,396 $14,349 Instream fish habitat

1996 Galena Creek relocation $87,720

Stream channel relocation CSP

2002 Rapid Creek in Rapid City $220,000 $0 Holding cover, fish passage, park dev.

1996 SIP project Spearfish Creek, Painter


1996 SIP project, Rapid Creek, O'Brien


2003 Castle and Rapid Creeks

$5,000 Willow plantings (4000 plus 4000)

1997 Pactola Basin Rapid Creek $8,710

Holding cover

1997 Spearfish Creek, Lookout and City Pk $18,859 $10,100 Bank work instream fish structure

1999 Pactola Basin check structure $114,279 $25,000 Fish passage

1999 Spearfish Cr. Hydro #2 to Maurice $121,000 $0 Instream fish habitat repair

1999 Spring Creek Hill City Park $30,034 $358 Instream fish habitat and riparian zone

1999 Wasp Mine riparian restoration $18,139 $9,069 Riparian zone renovation

2002 Spearfish geochemistry

Research SDSMT (thesis)

2001 Castle Creek riparian fence $15,587 $10,587 Riparian zone protection

2002 Grace Coolidge Cr. Small dams $31,047 $31,047 Structure repair/removal (6,3)

2001 Hearst Diversion removal $5,320 $5,320 Fish passage, water right

2003 Grace Coolidge Cr. Small dams

Sediment removal

2003 Savoy US14A structure

$35,000 Culvert, water right

2003 Whitewood Cr. access in Deadwood $86,737 $86,737 Access

2007 Savoy intake rehab/rapids const. $425,000 $425,000 Rehab old weir on Spearfish Creek/rapids etc.

2013 Pactola Basin $8,750 $0 Transportation of trees to Pactola Basin for habitat project

2014 Gimlet Creek $86,000 $10,000 Stream crossing improvements, sediment reduction

$1,980,666 $777,568

From 1991-2002, meanders and instream cover was added to 1,880 feet of Castle Creek. To improve wintertime flows, six valves were replaced on Deerfield Dam. Additionally, riparian exclosures were constructed along Castle Creek. Other improvements included: willow plantings on shorelines along Castle Creek and Rapid Creek, a new check structure fish passage system was installed below the basin, riparian zones and fish habitat were improved on Spring Creek in Hill City Park and holding cover and fish passages were improved in Rapid Creek. Habitat structures and stream enhancement projects require upkeep and repair and major flow events can impact the effectiveness and integrity of improvements. Some in-stream structures no longer function as in-stream fish habitat.

Fisheries Research Fisheries research is designed to address management issues, such as declines in fish populations. These projects generally have management-focused objectives and are intended to generate new potential management strategies. Recent examples of research projects included the evaluation of brown trout populations in Rapid Creek (Erickson et al. 2005; James et al. 2007) and the movement patterns of a unique population of rainbow trout in Spearfish Creek (James 2011a). In cases where the scope of a project involving game fish species requires additional assistance, partnerships with academic institutions, such as South Dakota State University, are undertaken. These projects are often funded through the federal Sport Fish Restoration program. Projects involving the status of native fish (Schultz 2011) and unique trout populations (Davis 2012) have provided managers with essential information.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Aquatic invasive species are classified as any species not native to an area that threaten the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquaculture, or recreational activities dependent on such waters (NANPCA 1990). Concern for AIS exists statewide and is addressed in more detail within the Statewide Fisheries Plan (SDGFP 2014a). Currently, AIS species didymo and red-rimmed melania, persist within streams of the BHFMA. In 2002, didymo, a diatom that can produce nuisance growths, was discovered in Rapid Creek below Pactola Reservoir. Didymo has since regularly bloomed from the tailrace below Pactola Reservoir dam downstream to the city limits of Rapid City (~39 km). Occasional blooms are also observed in Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir and in a small, isolated section of Castle Creek. Although these blooms raised concerns with anglers and managers, and were blamed for the decline of the Rapid Creek brown trout fishery, research showed that didymo was likely not the source of the decline of trout populations (James 2011b). Red-rimmed melania is a non-native snail common in the aquarium trade. Large deposits of these snails occur in Fall River within the city of Hot Springs where warm water from the geothermal resource of the Madison Group Aquifer provides favorable conditions. In addition to these snails, Jack Dempsey cichlids, while not currently listed as AIS in South Dakota rule, have also established a strong reproducing population in this warm stream. This fish species, native to Mexico and Honduras, is also common in the aquarium trade.


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The affects these AIS species have on sportfish and native populations is not fully understood but the apparent prolific nature of these species certainly raises concern and will be monitored in the future.

Fish Health Fish health is a major concern of fisheries managers. In addition to the possible introduction of salmonid pathogens from outside of South Dakota, several fish health concerns currently exist. Parasitic yellow grubs are present in French Creek in Custer County and have been documented since the early 1890’s (Evermann and Cox 1896). These grubs can affect any freshwater fish, but are mostly reported in yellow perch (Miller and Galinat 2009). Additionally, secondary infections of parasitic water molds have been observed during the fall in Rapid Creek brown trout, likely due to the stressors involved with spawning.

IV. Issues Information gained from a 2014 focus group of Black Hills stream anglers, public open house events, SDGFP staff, and the 2015 Black Hills Angler Survey (Longmire in prep.) was used to identify management issues. Not surprisingly, many of the issues identified for Black Hills streams were also identified and included in the BHFMA Strategic Plan.

1. Current angler demographics are unknown. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 2

2. Conflicting angler preferences require multiple management strategies.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 3

3. Readily available stream access information for anglers is over 15 years old and needs to be updated.


4. Angler compliance with existing regulations in the BHFMA is unknown. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 7

5. Relationships with public and private landowners are lacking, preventing the

implementation of Best Management Practices along many streams. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 8

6. Anglers may be confused by non-uniform bait regulations for different BHFMA

streams. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 10

7. Native fish populations might be negatively affected through habitat loss and fish

introductions. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issues 11 and 12

8. Stream flows are impacted by human activities, including urban development.



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9. Management to produce maximum angler satisfaction may require complex and/or water-specific regulations.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 14 10. Hatchery rearing and genetic influences on post-stocking performance and angler

satisfaction are not always considered when making trout stocking decisions. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 16

11. The long-term impacts of invasive or introduced species in streams are not well

understood. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 17

12. Hatchery production of trout is limited, with hatcheries currently operating at

capacity. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 18

13. The extended time frame for requesting changes in coldwater hatchery production

requires long-term planning by fisheries managers. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 19

14. Sampling protocols and management strategies for non-game and native fish

populations are lacking. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 20

15. Aquatic invertebrates and amphibians are not sampled using established protocols,

if they are sampled at all. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 21

16. Trout stocking criteria are not well-defined.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 22 17. Long-term planning is required to implement habitat and access projects on federal

lands. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 24

18. Population genetics information, including genetic health and source strains, is

unknown for nearly all naturally-reproducing trout populations. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 26

19. Data important to stream management that is collected and stored by other state

and federal resource agencies is not readily available. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 27

20. Factors affecting trout reproduction and recruitment are unknown for many streams.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 28 21. Current information on riparian zones is lacking.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 29 22. Evaluations, including cost-benefit analysis, of habitat restoration and access

projects are typically not conducted.


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Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 31 23. Sedimentation and increased water temperatures likely do to forestry practices,

grazing, road construction, and mining may be negatively impacting habitat quality and fish populations.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 32 24. Overhead cover along streams may be impacted by grazing practices.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 33 25. Insufficient instream flows and elevated summer water temperatures may be limiting

sport fish populations in some streams. Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 34

26. Elevated summer water temperatures limit coldwater habitat in some waters.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 35 27. Over-winter survival of trout may be habitat limited in selected creeks.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 36 28. Sampling protocols to measure instream habitat have not been established.

Issue is similar to BHFMA Plan Issue 37 29. Streams sometimes don’t meet their designated fish classification. 30. Unidentified Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 trout populations may exist. 31. Effect of potential climate change on BHFMA streams is not fully understood. 32. Stream sampling site numbers do not always fall in numerical order and do not

reflect location. 33. No objective measure of success exists for trophy or memorable trout management

in BHFMA streams.

34. Disruption of stream connectivity by in-stream barriers may negatively affect movement of native and sport fish.

V. Goal, Objectives, Strategies Goal: Manage stream fisheries (and other stream aquatic resources) in the BHFMA of

South Dakota for long-term sustainable use and enjoyment. Objectives and strategies are presented here to address general Black Hills stream management issues not already addressed in objectives contained in the BHFMA Strategic Plan. Completing these objectives and strategies will be the focus of SDGFP fisheries staff over the next five years.


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Objective 1: Annually, protect or enhance at least one half mile of coldwater stream habitat.

Strategy 1.1: Identify riparian areas and associated instream coldwater fish habitat

that should be protected or enhanced. Strategy 1.2: Determine land ownership and permitting requirements of identified

locations. Strategy 1.3: Identify stakeholders willing to implement best management practices

or small-scale enhancement projects. Strategy 1.4: Prioritize primary streams (Rapid, Castle, Spearfish) and project locations based on public access availability, angler input and SDGFP fish population and habitat survey data. Strategy 1.5: Determine funding requirements and availability. Strategy 1.6: Involve NGO’s and other potentially affected individuals. Strategy 1.7: Select location(s) based on available funds and complete project(s). Strategy 1.8: Annually allocate funds in operating budgets for conducting habitat improvements and submit project proposals for larger projects for funding consideration.

Objective 2: By December 2019, classify all BHFMA stream reaches.

Strategy 2.1: Identify stream reaches that have not been classified (i.e. Class 1, 2 or 3).

Strategy 2.2: Conduct fish population surveys in unclassified reaches and in those

reaches where the classification may have changed. Strategy 2.3: Update the Stream Management Index.

VI. Operational Guide for Black Hills Stream Fish Management

Fish management in streams is largely focused on sportfish (i.e. trout species). Management actions address wild populations and whether hatchery fish are needed to maintain viably fishable trout populations. To help facilitate these actions, a classification system was created for stream reaches and, in some instances, entire streams. The classifications are based on the number of fish that anglers would consider a good size (8 inches for all trout species) to catch per acre of water. Descriptions of these classes are: Class 1 designation: Provides anglers the opportunity to pursue trout in populations sustained by natural reproduction. Refers to waters with 150 or more adult (eight inches


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and longer) brown and brook trout per acre of water area and 25 or more eight inch and longer rainbow trout per acre. Class 2 designation: Indicates areas where anglers have the opportunity to pursue naturally produced trout in less than optimal habitat, limited reproduction and/or low recruitment results in lower densities. Refers to waters with 25 to 150 adult (eight inches and longer) brown or brook trout and less than 25 rainbow trout (eight inches and longer) per acre of surface water area. Class 3 designation: Indicates areas where natural reproduction and/or recruitment generally do not support fishable trout populations. This designation indicates areas where hatchery stockings are needed to improve angling success during times of adequate environmental conditions (i.e. temperature and flow). Refers to waters with less than 25 adult brown or brook trout (eight inches and greater) per acre of water area.

Management guidelines The following guidelines are largely adopted from the 1993 Black Hills Stream Plan and will be utilized to conduct stream reach fisheries management in the Black Hills.

1. The biological characteristics of the stream and public input shall determine the management type. Streams with adequate natural trout reproduction should be primarily managed for the species present.

2. Stream reaches will be designated for management through natural recruitment or as hatchery supported.

3. To remain designated as Class 1 on primary waters (i.e. Castle, Rapid and

Spearfish), stream reaches must meet or exceed specifications on an average of two of three (66%) of the most recent consecutive sampling events.

4. Stream reaches meeting Class 2 and Class 3 definitions will be evaluated on what is limiting the trout populations from meeting a higher classification.

5. Memorable Trout Management Areas will be evaluated on the number of adult trout equal to or greater than 15 inches in length with a goal of at least 12 fish per acre.

6. Hatchery trout management (e.g. supplemental stocking) is not limited to, but is

primarily utilized on streams or management reaches where: 1) environmental conditions preclude sustaining a fishable population of trout, 2) management objectives (e.g. Memorable Trout Option) are not being met, 3) angling demand is in excess of the natural productivity of trout in the stream reach. Supplemental stockings consist primarily of catchable size (11 inch) and 15 inch rainbow trout and fingerling and catchable size brown trout.

7. Regulations will be kept as simple and uniform across the BHFMA as possible, but

special regulations will be considered to meet management objectives on selected stream reaches and will be denoted in the annual SDGFP Fishing Handbook and marked with on-site signage.


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8. Trout stockings will be restricted to areas where public access is allowed.

9. Trout are not stocked for fishing derbies or for other promotional programs.

10. Stream habitat projects will be directed towards upgrading the quality of the fish populations through improved fish habitat and water quality.

11. Two stocking meetings held annually. A November meeting to finalize the stocking schedule for the following year. A July meeting to address future requests for coldwater species and numbers in order to allow hatcheries one to two years to plan accordingly.

Stream Reach Management – Wild Fish (WF) Purpose: Manage self-sustaining fish populations as a renewable natural resource. Management Options for wild fish stream reaches: The options listed below show the ways a stream reach can be managed for naturally producing fish populations.

1. Natural Yield (NY) Objective: to emphasize the wild trout fishing experience. a. Uses standard harvest limits b. No restrictions on terminal gear

2. Memorable Trout (MT)

Objective: to provide angling opportunity to catch wild trout in excess of 15 inches. a. May use restricted harvest limits (e.g. catch and release) b. May use restrictions on terminal gear (artificial lures only)

3. Unique Trout (UT)

Objective: to provide fishable populations of species uncommon to most Black Hills streams. a. May use special harvest restrictions for the species of concern

4. Improvement (I)

Objective: to improve angling through regulations or stocking in lieu of intensive habitat work. Identify areas or fish populations that may need help recovering from severe environmental events or where catch rates do not meet angler expectations. a. May use restricted harvest limits (in overharvest areas) b. May use stocking of hatchery trout in wild fish management reaches to provide

increased catch rates of adult trout c. Consideration must be given to detrimental effects on wild fish populations prior

to stocking.

5. Native Fish (NF) Indicates areas favorable for native fish or streams that may not offer ideal conditions for maintaining fishable trout populations, stocking hatchery trout or where little to no recreational fishing pressure occurs.


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Stream Reach Management – Hatchery Supplemented (HS) Hatchery Supplemented provides fish stocked on a put-grow-and-take, put-and-take, enhancement, or introductory basis. Purpose: To maintain fish populations in stream reaches that do not have the physical or biological capacity to support naturally sustaining sport fish populations. Generally is accomplished in Class 3 stream reaches. Management Options for Hatchery Supplemented stream reaches: The options listed below show the ways a stream reach can be managed for hatchery supplemented populations.

1. Annual (A) or Seasonal (S) – Stocking frequency Objective (Annual): to assure fish are available for anglers through high demand periods. Objective (Seasonal): to provide fishing opportunity in marginal areas (i.e. may experience periods of elevated temperatures, low flow or seasonal drought) at times when habitat conditions are adequate for trout.

2. Species (e.g. RB – rainbow trout, BN – brown trout, BK – brook trout)

Objective: to provide sportfish suitable for conditions of the stream and fish species that meet anglers needs. A specific species will be used to accomplish specific management goals, such as an increased likelihood of return to anglers or an increased potential for naturalization and reproduction.

3. Memorable (M)

Objective: provide a large trout component in areas that generally lack large fish but have high angling pressure and good public access. a. Uses 15 inch rainbow trout.

4. Unique (U)

Objective: to provide fishable populations of species uncommon to Black Hills streams. a. Uses stockings of fingerling and/or 11 inch fish of the management species of

choice.

Stream Sampling Sampling to assess stream fish populations utilizes backpack electrofishing to collect fish. Sampling is normally accomplished in summer to early fall to avoid biases associated with spawning or seasonal movements of fish (James 1999). Population assessment is done one of two ways: 1) a three pass depletion is conducted and fish per 100 meters and per acre are calculated; or 2) a one pass electrofishing episode is performed and the number of fish observed is recorded, confirming presence or absence of a population. All stream sample sites are 100 meters long. In addition to fish species and numbers, other collected information includes fish length and weight, and measurements of stream width, temperature, conductivity and pH. When age and growth information is needed, a sub-sample of fish may be sacrificed to remove otoliths (inner ear bone) for ageing purposes. Ageing trout with scales, while allowing for survival of sampled fish, has proven to be less accurate and precise. Sampling


20

scales from fish also elevates stress levels causing survival of fish with scales removed to often be less than 100%. Data acquired from ageing of otoliths will lead to better information on age and growth which is necessary to help determine recruitment, growth and mortality of a trout population. Sacrificing of a small number of trout for age and growth information will not have a biological impact on the population as a whole and will not be detectable in the catch rates of anglers. Black Hills fisheries in small streams are not normally sampled except when specific questions need answered or during periodic inventories. Generally small streams are sampled using historical (fixed) sites with additional sites added using a random stratified type design. Small and intermittent streams should be included and identified in the Stream Management Index. Standard sampling units consist of 100 meter stream segments. Sample site identifiers (numbers) should reflect location on a stream. Segments start at the mouth of a stream and are located every 100 meters along the length of the stream. For example, a site referred to as 24 is located 2,400 meters from the mouth of a stream.

Fixed sampling sites are normally used on primary streams (e.g. Castle, Rapid and Spearfish). Random stratified sites may be added during intense surveys when more information is needed. Primary streams should be identified in the SMI. While historical site names don’t often reflect location on a stream, sample site numbers (same as used on small streams) are to be added to future SMI lists.


21

VII. Stream Management Index; TBD = to be determined, HS = hatchery supplemented, NF= native fish, WF = wild fish, NY = natural

yield, I = improvement, NWT = no wild trout, A = annual, S = seasonal, M = memorable, MT = memorable trout, U = unique, UT = unique trout, BK 1,2,3 = brook trout classifications, BN 1,2,3 = brown trout classifications, RB 1,2 = rainbow trout classifications, P = primary stream.

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach

Number Reach Description

Reach Length (miles)

Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014

Sites Date last sampled

Trout Class

Comments

Battle Creek 7 Draw 17.636 TBD

Battle Creek Battle Creek

2 0.5mi below SD79 to 0.5mi below Hayward

13.1 HS

Stocked at bridges, 2 miles west of Hermosa to Hayward.

3 0.5mi below Hayward

to headwaters 12.7 WF-NY

Battle Creek

1051 25-Jun-09 BK3

Battle Creek 963

BK3 Battle Creek

963 13-Jun-14 BK3

Battle Creek

09 09-Jul-09

Battle Creek

05 24-Jun-09 BN3

Battle Creek

1120 09-Jun-94

BK1, RB2

Battle Creek

936 26-Jun-09 BN3

Battle Creek Bear Gulch 6.342 WF-NY Bear Gulch

01 19-May-

09 BK2

Battle Creek Billover Creek 12.485 TBD -

Battle Creek Bobcat Gulch 3.334 TBD -

Battle Creek Buckeye

Gulch 4.493 TBD -

Battle Creek Deadman

Creek 8.412 TBD -

Battle Creek Foster Gulch Entire stream 4.3 WF-NY Foster Gulch

01 14-May-

09

Battle Creek Galena Creek Entire stream 7.7 WF-NY

Galena Creek

02 20-May-

09

Galena Creek

01 20-May-

09 BK3

Battle Creek Grace

Coolidge Creek

1 Battle Creek to 1mi

downstream of State Game Lodge

12.2 WF-NY Grace

Coolidge Creek 01

23-Jul-97 BK2, BN1, RB1


22

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

2

1mi downstream of State Game Lodge to Center Lake. Grace Coolidge lowhead

dams

5.3 WF-I; HS

Grace Coolidge Creek 02

19-May-09

BK2

Upper = WF/Improved; Lower = HS/RBT

3 Center Lake to

headwaters 6 WF-NY

Grace

Coolidge Creek 03

20-May-09

BK3, RB1

Grace

Coolidge Creek 04

30-Jun-04 BK3, RB3

Battle Creek Grace Coolidge Tributary

Entire stream TBD WF-NY -

Battle Creek Greyhound

Gulch 5.816 TBD -

Battle Creek Grizzly Bear

Creek Entire stream 6.8 WF-NY

Grizzly Bear

Creek 01 19-May-

09 BK3

Battle Creek Horsely Gulch 1.166 TBD -

Battle Creek Iron Creek

(South)

1 Confluence with Battle

Ck to US16A 4.7 WF-NY

Iron Creek (South) 1

BK3 Iron Creek (South) 1

29-May-14

BK3


BK2 Iron Creek (South) 4

29-May-14

BK2


28-Aug-98

BK3, BN3, RB3


18-May-09

BK3


19-May-09

BK3


18-May-09

2 US16A to headwaters 9.7 WF-I


21-Jul-94 BK2, RB3


25-Jul-94 BK3, RB1

Battle Creek Lafferty Gulch 1.044 TBD -

Battle Creek Lead Draw 2.766 TBD -


23

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Battle Creek Little Squaw


Little Squaw Creek 01

19-May-09

Battle Creek Norbeck Draw 0.785 TBD -

Battle Creek North Fork Bear Gulch

1.332 TBD -

Battle Creek Pine Creek Entire stream 3.6 WF-NY

Pine Creek 01

18-May-09

Pine Creek

02 14-May-

09

Battle Creek Potato Gulch

Creek 0.647 TBD

Potato Gulch

Creek 01 01-Jul-08

BK2, BN3

Potato Gulch

Creek 02 19-Jul-93 BK3

Battle Creek Reed Draw 3.201 TBD -

Battle Creek Rocky Gulch 2.356 TBD -

Battle Creek Sheep Draw 0.893 TBD -

Battle Creek South Fork Bear Gulch

2.07 TBD -

Battle Creek Spokane

Creek 11.723 TBD

Spokane Creek 02

14-May-09

Battle Creek Tepee Gulch TBD 6.2 WF-NY Teepee

Gulch 01 14-May-

09

Battle Creek Toll Gate

Creek 2.088 TBD -

Battle Creek Walt Smith

Canyon 8.448 TBD -

Battle Creek Whiskey

Gulch 1.894 TBD -

Bear Butte Alkali Creek 2 TBD -

Bear Butte Bear Butte

Bear Butte Creek 09

15-Sep-93 BK3, BN1

Bear Butte Creek 10

BK2 Bear Butte Creek 10

07-Sep-14 BK2

Bear Butte Creek 12

18-Oct-96 BN3

Bear Butte Creek 13

21-Oct-96 BN2

Bear Butte Creek 16

13-Jul-10 BK2


24

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Bear Butte Creek 17

13-Jul-10 BK2

Bear Butte Creek 18

BK2 Bear Butte Creek 18

09-Jul-14 BK2

Bear Butte Creek 723

14-Jul-93 NWT


12-Jul-10 BK2


07-Sep-04 BK2


10-Sep-97 BK2, RB2


12-Jul-10 BK1


11-Sep-07 BK2


12-Sep-07 BK2


14-Jul-97 BK3


12-Jul-10 BK2


12-Sep-07 BK1


13-Jul-10 BK3


13-Jul-10 BK2

Bear Butte Bear Butte Unnamed

Tributary 1 BBT 02 BK3

Bear Butte Unnamed

tributary 1/2

21-Aug-14

BK3

Bear Butte Bear Butte Unnamed

Tributary 2 BT2 01 BK2

Bear Butte Unnamed

Tributary 2/1

18-Aug-14

BK2

Private-below small dam. Always has water

Bear Butte Boomer Gulch 1.497 TBD

Boomer Gulch 01

30-Jun-93

Boomer Gulch 02

12-Sep-07 BK3

Boomer Gulch 03

20-Sep-00 BK3

Bear Butte Boulder Creek 6.628 TBD -


25

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Bear Butte Butcher Gulch 1.536 TBD -

Bear Butte Deadman

Gulch 7.479 TBD -

Bear Butte Dolan Creek TBD TBD -

Bear Butte East Two Bit

Creek WF-NY

Two Bit East

Creek 01 13-Aug-

08 BK1

private, gate, no access 2014

Two Bit East Creek 02

BK3 Two Bit East

Creek 02 21-Aug-

14 BK3

Bear Butte Lost Gulch 4.758 TBD -

Bear Butte Park Creek 5.325 WF-NY

Park Creek 01

Park Creek

01 16-Jun-14

Park Creek

02 14-Jul-10

Bear Butte Peedee Gulch

Creek TBD TBD

Peedee Gulch Creek

01

01-Aug-14

Not Sampled. 2" deep 8" wide

Bear Butte Ruby Gulch 0.972 TBD -

Bear Butte Spring Creek 3.25 TBD -

Bear Butte Strawberry


Strawberry Creek 01

17-Sep-98

Strawberry Creek 02

12-Jul-10 BK3

Strawberry Creek 03

13-Jul-10 BK2

Bear Butte Two Bit Creek

WF-NY Two Bit

Creek 02 BK3

Two Bit Creek 02

31-Jul-14 BK3

WF-NY Two Bit

Creek 06 BK3

Two Bit Creek 06

18-Aug-14

BK3

Two Bit

Creek 01 12-Aug-

08

Two Bit

Creek 03 24-Sep-96 BK3

Two Bit

Creek 04 24-Sep-96 BK3

Two Bit

Creek 05 30-Sep-98

Bear Butte Vanocker

Creek TBD 3.8 TBD VAN01

Vanocker Creek 01

14-Jul-93


26

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Beaver Bear Creek TBD Bear Creek

01 2014

Two stock dams with wetlands between. No stream.

Beaver Beaver Creek

1 SD-WY border to 1N, 1E, W line of Sec 6

2.5 WF-NY; HS-

RBT

Beaver Creek

(Penn. Co.) 01 26Jun14

BK1 Beaver Creek (Penn. Co.) 01 26Jun14

26-Jun-14 BK1 Stock in campground and evaluate

Beaver Creek

(Penn. Co.) 01 7Jul14

BK2 Beaver Creek (Penn. Co.) 01 7Jul14

07-Jul-14 BK2

2 2mi above SD-WY line

to headwaters WF-I

Beaver Creek

(Penn. Co.) 04

BK2 Beaver Creek (Penn. Co.)

04 08-Jul-14 BK2

Beaver Beaver Creek TBD

Beaver Coon Creek TBD -

Beaver Dugout Creek TBD -

Beaver East Pass

Creek TBD

East Pass Creek 01

12-Aug-94

East Pass Creek 02

26-May-09

Beaver Line Creek TBD -

Beaver Little Bear

Run no flow -

Beaver Lone Tree

Creek TBD -

Beaver Pass Creek TBD Pass Creek

01 13-Apr-09

Beaver Short Fork TBD -

Beaver Thompson

Canyon WF-NY

Thompson Canyon Creek 01

Thompson

Canyon Creek 01

02-Jul-14

Thompson Canyon Creek 02

Thompson

Canyon Creek 02

02-Jul-14

Beaver West Pass

Creek TBD

West Pass Creek 01

26-May-09


27

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Beaver Wet Parmalee Wet

Parmalee 01 2014

Perennial for small distance. Access is difficult.

Beaver Whoopup

Creek TBD -

Beaver Creek Bear Gulch?? Entire stream 2.4 WF-NY

Beaver Creek Beaver Creek

1 Confluence of

Cheyenne R to ¼mi below SD79

TBD WF-NY Beaver Creek

04 16-Jun-09

2 ¼mi below SD79 to 6S,

7E, W line Sec 4 WF-NY

Beaver Creek 06

16-Jun-09 NWT

3 6W, 6E W line of Sec 4

to headwaters WF-NY

Beaver Creek Bowman Draw 3.396 TBD -

Beaver Creek Cold Spring

Creek 7.198 TBD

Cold Spring

Creek 01 16-Jun-09

Cold Spring

Creek 02 06-Jun-97 NWT

Beaver Creek Curley Canyon 0.947 TBD -

Beaver Creek Echo Valley 2.486 TBD -

Beaver Creek Gobbler Canyon

7.704 TBD -

Beaver Creek Haven Canyon 8.886 TBD -

Beaver Creek Highland


Highland Creek 01

10-Jun-09 BKT nursery

Beaver Creek Martin Valley 5.522 TBD -

Beaver Creek Negro Creek 0.854 TBD -

Beaver Creek Prairie Dog

Canyon 2.378 TBD -

Beaver Creek Red Valley 5.081 TBD -

Beaver Creek Well Pole

Creek 1.908 TBD -

Beaver Creek Wind Cave

Canyon TBD 7 TBD

Wind Cave Canyon 01

19-May-93


28

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Boxelder Blackhawk

Creek 6.223 none dry -

Never water unless 10" of rain in a storm. Usually gone in a day.

Boxelder Blue Draw 1.219 TBD -

Boxelder Bogus Jim

Creek Entire stream 9

WF-NY Bogus Jim Creek 01

Bogus Jim Creek 01

05-Jun-14

Bogus Jim Creek 02

Bogus Jim Creek 02

09-Jul-14

Boxelder Boxelder

Creek

1 Bogus Jim Creek

Confluence to Hwy 79

Boxelder Creek 05

20-Jul-99 BK3, BN2,

Boxelder Creek 06

29-Jul-99 BK3, BN3

2 Bogus Jim Creek to

½mi above Nemo 9.8 WF-I

Boxelder Creek 08

18-Jun-13 BK3, BN2, RB2

Boxelder Creek 02

13-Jul-93 BK2, BN1

3 ½mi above Nemo to

½mi above confluence of N Fork

2

WF-I Boxelder Creek 03

12-Jul-93 BK1, BN2

WF-NY Boxelder Creek 01

BK3,BN3

Boxelder Creek 01

31-Jul-14 BK3, BN3

WF-NY Boxelder Creek 04

BK, 2-BN,3

Boxelder Creek 04

07-Jul-14 BK2, BN3

Boxelder Creek 07

Bk,2 - BN, 2

Boxelder Creek 07

01-Aug-14

BK2, BN2

Boxelder Creek 09

BK,3-BN,2

Boxelder Creek 09

31-Jul-14 BK3, BN2

Boxelder Corral Creek Entire stream 5.4 WF-NY

Corral Creek 03

BK2 Corral Creek

03 23-Jul-14 BK2

Corral Creek

02 08-Jul-10 BK3

Corral Creek

01 13-Jul-94 BK1

Boxelder Deer Creek TBD TBD -

Boxelder Erskine Gulch 3.145 TBD -

Boxelder Estes Creek Entire stream 5.5 WF-NY Estes Creek

01 BK3

Estes Creek 01

10-Jun-14 BK3 Contains old FS K-dams


29

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Boxelder Gingress Draw 1.131 TBD -

Boxelder Green Draw 1.721 TBD -

Boxelder Hay Creek 6.247 WF-NY Hay Creek

03 BK2 Hay Creek 03 05-Jun-14 BK2

Boxelder Jenny Gulch 1.138 TBD -

Boxelder Jim Creek Entire stream 10.2 WF-NY

Jim Creek 01

BK3 Jim Creek 01 10-Jun-14 BK3

Jim Creek 02

BK3,BN3

Jim Creek 02 10-Jun-14 BK3, BN3

Boxelder Middle Bogus

Jim Creek 6.766 TBD -

Boxelder Middle

Boxelder Creek

Entire stream 8.9 WF-NY

Middle Boxelder Creek 02

BK3 Middle

Boxelder Creek 02

11-Jun-14 BK3

Middle

Boxelder Creek 03

BK2 Middle

Boxelder Creek 03

11-Aug-14

BK2

Boxelder North Bogus


Boxelder North

Boxelder Creek


North Boxelder Creek 01

BK3 North

Boxelder Creek 01

11-Jun-14 BK3

North

Boxelder Creek 02

27-May-93

BK2

North

Boxelder Creek 03

30-Jul-08 BK3

North Boxelder Creek 04

BK2 North

Boxelder Creek 04

09-Jul-14 BK2

Boxelder North Fork

Estes Creek 1.01 TBD

North Estes Creek 01

24-May-94

Boxelder Richard Draw 0.996 TBD -

Boxelder South Bogus


Boxelder South

Boxelder Creek

Entire stream 8.4 WF-NY South

Boxelder Creek 01

13-May-93

BK2, BN3


30

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

South

Boxelder Creek 02

09-Jun-10 BK3

South Boxelder Creek 03

BK2 South

Boxelder Creek 03

04-Aug-14

BK2

Boxelder Wards Canyon 2.025 TBD -

Boxelder West Fork

Estes Creek 2.972 TBD -

Boxelder Wilson Draw 4.271 TBD -

Chicken Creek

Chicken Creek Entire stream 4.716 TBD Chicken Creek 01

15-Jun-1995

NWT No fish sampled

Crow Creek Crow Creek Entire stream 10.419 TBD

Crow Creek

01 28-Jul-2008

BR2 RB1

longnose sucker present

Crow Creek

02 29-Jul-2008

BK3

Crow Creek

03

Crow Creek

04 26-Jun-

2000 BR1


Crow Creek

05 28-Jul-2008

BR2 RB1

mountain sucker present

Crow Creek

06 30-Oct-

2000 BR1


Crow Creek

07

Crow Creek

08 30-Oct-

2000 BR1 RB2


Elk Creek Chimney Canyon

1.883 TBD -

Elk Creek Dry Elk Gulch 2.681 TBD -

Elk Creek Elk Creek

1 27.951 WF-NY

2 2mi below Haines Ave Bridge to ½mi E of I-90

3 WF-I

3 ½mi E of I-90 to FS151 TBD WF-NY Elk Creek 02 BK2 Elk Creek 02 14-Jul-14 BK2 Intermittent


31

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Elk Creek 06 13-Jul-09 BK3

4 Sec1 FS151 to ½mi below

Roubaix (town) TBD WF-NY Elk Creek 04 BK3 Elk Creek 04 18-Jul-14 BK3

5 ½mi below Roubaix

(town) to headwaters 5.5 WF-NY

Elk Creek 03 01-Jul-08 BK3

Elk Creek 05 23-Aug-

10 BK2

Elk Creek Hay Creek 0.747 TBD

Elk Creek Little Elk

Creek Entire stream 12.7

WF-NY

Little Elk Creek 01

BK2 Little Elk Creek 01

12-Aug-14

BK2

Little Elk Creek 02

BK2,RB2

Little Elk Creek 02

30-Jul-14 BK2, RB2

Little Elk Creek 03

06-Jun-95 BK2

Elk Creek Meadow Creek 3.614 WF-NY

Meadow Creek 01

BK3 Meadow Creek 01

06-Jun-14 BK3

Meadow Creek 02

BK3 Meadow Creek 02

06-Jun-14 BK3

Elk Creek Virkula Gulch 1.136 none dry Virkula 01 dry

8/2014

Elk Creek Waite Gulch 1.424 TBD -

Fall River Antelope Canyon

2.575 TBD -

Fall River Argyle Canyon 6.957 TBD -

Fall River Booms Canyon

3.551 TBD -

Fall River Carroll Creek 9.819 TBD -

Fall River Cascade

Creek

Entire stream 3 HS-A

Cascade Creek 01

Cascade Creek 02

21-Jun-2010

Fall River Cold Brook

Canyon 34.11 TBD

Cold Brook Canyon 01

17-Jun-09

Fall River Cottonwood

Springs Creek 10.371 TBD -

Fall River Dudley Canyon

4.054 TBD -

Fall River Elm Creek Entire stream TBD TBD 10-May-

1993 NWT

No fish captured

Fall River Fall River Cheyenne River to Hot

Springs city limit 5.4 WF-NY Fall River 01

25-Aug-98

NWT


32

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Fall River 02 22-Jun-93 NWT

Fall River 03 25-Aug-

98 NWT

Fall River Hotbrook Canyon


Hotbrook

Canyon 02 27-May-

09

Hotbrook

Canyon 01 27-May-

09 Warm water

Fall River Shirttail Canyon

5.225 TBD -

Fall River Wildcat Canyon

6.744 TBD

False Bottom False Bottom

Creek 2

1mi upstream from I-90 to headwaters

9.3 WF-NY

False Bottom

Creek 01

BK 3 -BN 3

False Bottom Creek 01

17-Jun-14 BK3, BN3

False Bottom

Creek 02 27-Aug-

98 BK3

False Bottom

Creek 03 09-Jul-10

BK2, BN2

False Bottom

Creek 04 BK3


19-Aug-14

BK3

False Bottom Burno Gulch Entire stream 5.2 WF-NY Burno Gulch

01 BK2

Burno Gulch 01

16-Jun-14 BK2

French Creek Bobcat Canyon

1.092 TBD -

French Creek Bugtown

Gulch 0.76 TBD -

French Creek Crow Creek 2.774 TBD -

French Creek Dry Creek 33.264 TBD -

French Creek East Fork

Ruby Creek 2.453 TBD -

French Creek French Creek

2 E boundary of CSP to

Stockade Lake 21.7 HS

French Creek

03 15-Jun-09 NWT

Stocked at access points from old Glenn Erin School to bridge below CSP Horse Camp.

French Creek

04 03-Jun-09 BN3

French Creek

07 22-Jun-09 BN3

French Creek

09 08-Jun-09 BN3

3 Stockade Lake to

headwaters 33.3 WF-NY

French Creek 11

26-Jun-09


33

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

French Creek

13 26-Jun-09

French Creek Glen Erin

Creek 6.318 NF

Glen Erin Creek 01

22-Aug-06

NWT

French Creek Gordon Canyon

2.414 TBD -

French Creek Laughing

Water Creek 6.716 TBD -

French Creek Meeker Creek

E. Fork TBD TBD

Meeker Creek East 01

21-May-09

NWT

French Creek Meeker Creek

W. Fork TBD TBD

Meeker Creek West 01

21-May-09

NWT

French Creek Middle Fork

French Creek 2.953 TBD -

French Creek North Fork

French Creek 11.763 TBD

French Creek

North 01 29-Jun-04 NWT

French Creek

North 02 29-Jun-04

French Creek Ruby Creek 6.691 TBD Ruby Creek

01 21-May-

09 NWT

French Creek Sidney Creek 2.67 TBD -

French Creek South Fork

French Creek 3.45 TBD

French Creek South 01

02-Jun-09

French Creek Swint Creek 9.864 TBD -

French Creek Toe Gulch 4.531 TBD -

French Creek Willow Creek 6.276 TBD -

Lame Johnny

Blacktail Creek

8.029 TBD -

Lame Johnny

Dry Creek 18.585 TBD -

Lame Johnny

Flynn Creek 12.785 NF Flynn Creek

01 26-May-

09 NWT

Lame Johnny

Lame Johnny Creek

Entire stream 33.152 WF-NY -

Lame Johnny

North Fork Lame Johnny

Creek 8.222 TBD

Lame Johnny North 01

05-May-09

Lame Johnny

South Fork Lame Johnny

9.94 TBD Lame Johnny

South 01 26-May-

09


34

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Creek

Pass Creek Beaver Creek 7.726 TBD

Pass Creek Coon Creek 7.961 TBD -

Pass Creek Dugout Creek 6.083 TBD -

Pass Creek East Fork

Pass Creek 12.965 TBD

East Pass Creek 02

26-May-09

Pass Creek Hell Canyon 37.589 TBD Hell Canyon

01 13-Apr-09

Pass Creek Lemming

Draw 5.675 TBD -

Pass Creek Lithograph

Canyon 3.806 TBD -

Pass Creek Lyman Draw 7.264 TBD -

Pass Creek Pass Creek 20.083 TBD

Pass Creek

01 13-Apr-09

Pass Creek

02 12-Aug-

94

Pass Creek Red Point Canyon

4.638 TBD -

Pass Creek Schenk Canyon

15.628 TBD -

Pass Creek Short Fork

Hell Canyon 2.221 TBD -

Pass Creek Sourdough

Draw 7.079 TBD -

Pass Creek Tepee Canyon 25.855 TBD

Tepee

Canyon 01 13-Apr-09

Tepee

Canyon 02 13-Apr-09

Pass Creek West Hell Canyon

14.331 TBD -

Pass Creek West Pass

Creek 7.821 TBD

West Pass Creek 01

26-May-09

Pass Creek West Tepee

Canyon 2.572 TBD -

Pass Creek Windmill Draw 0.742 TBD -

Rapid Bittersweet

Creek 4.51 TBD

Bittersweet

Creek 01 28-May-

08

Bittersweet Creek 02

Bittersweet

Creek 02 02-Jul-08 dry in 2014


35

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Rapid Brush Creek 2.651 WF-NY Brush Creek

01

Brush Creek 01

28-May-14

Rapid Buskala Creek Entire stream 4.7 NF-WF-NY

Buskala Creek 01

15-Jun-95 BK3

Buskala Creek 02

15-Jun-95

Buskala Creek 03

BK2 Buskala Creek 03

16-Jun-14 BK2

Buskala Creek 04

BK3, BN3

Buskala Creek 04

10-Jun-14 BK3, BN3

Rapid Castle Creek

(P)

1

Confluence with Rapid Creek to ½mi above

Castle Peak Campground

19.2 WF; HS RBT

Annual

Castle Creek

05 12-Sep-02 BK3

Stocked from Mystic through campground at bridges and access points.

Castle Creek

07 -

Castle Creek

11 07-Jul-09

BN2, RB2

Castle Creek

13 -

Castle Creek

18 18-Sep-06

BN2, RB2

Castle Creek

19 19-Sep-06

BK3, RB2

Castle Creek

48 07-Jul-09

BK3, BN2

Castle Creek

79 01-Jul-09

BN2, RB1

Castle Creek

82 01-Jul-09 BN2

Castle Creek

102 25-Jun-12

BN2, RB1

Castle Creek

111 07-Jul-09

BN3, RB2

Castle Creek

140 08-Jul-09 BN2

Castle Creek

153 08-Jul-09 BN3

Castle Creek 181

BN2 Castle Creek

181 02-Jul-14 BN2

Castle Creek 186

BN2,RB2

Castle Creek 186

03-Jul-14 BN2,R

B2

Castle Creek

204 25-Jun-12

BN2, RB2

2 ½mi above Castle

Peak Campground to 6.9 WF-NY

Castle Creek 212

21-Jun-94 BK3, BN2


36

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

FS 188

Castle Creek 252

20-Jun-94 BK3, BN2

Castle Creek

253 20-Jun-94

BK3, BN1

Castle Creek

277 15-Jul-09

BK3, BN2

Castle Creek

287 15-Jul-09

BK3, BN2

Castle Creek

312 12-Jun-12

BK2, BN1

Castle Creek 309

BK2,BN1

Castle Creek 309

30-May-14

BK2,BN1

Castle Creek 324

BK1,BN2

Castle Creek 324

23-May-14

BK1,BN2

Castle Creek 2014

BK3, BN2

Castle Creek 2014

25-Jun-14 BK3, BN2

3 FS 188 to Deerfield

Dam 2 WF-NY

Castle Creek

330 23-Sep-08

BK2, BN2

Castle Creek

332 29-Jun-09

BK2, BN3

Castle Creek

343 18-Jun-09

BK2, BN2

Castle Creek

353 26-Sep-00

BK1, BN1

Castle Creek

357 21-Sep-99

BK1, BN3

Castle Creek

363 20-Sep-06

BK1, BN1

Castle Creek 334

BK2,BN1

Castle Creek 334

27-May-14

BK2,BN1

Castle Creek 337

BK2,BN2

Castle Creek 337

27-May-14

BK2,BN2

Castle Creek 356

BK1,BN1

Castle Creek 356

20-May-14

BK1,BN1

Castle Creek 362

BK1,BN1

Castle Creek 362

19-May-14

BK1,BN1

4 Deerfield Resv to

Soholt Draw 5.7

WF NY/HS-RBT Annual

Castle Creek

414 -

Castle Creek

417 -

Castle Creek

428 21-Aug-

09 BK3, RB2


37

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Castle Creek

463 26-Aug-

09 BK3, RB1

Castle Creek

467 26-Aug-

09 BK3, RB2

Castle Creek 450

BK2,RB2

Castle Creek 450

01-Jul-14 BK2,R

B2

Castle Creek 426

BK2,RB1

Castle Creek 426

19-Jun-14 BK2,R

B1

5 Soholt Draw to


Castle Creek

508 09-Jun-93 BK2

Castle Creek

556 09-Jun-93 BK2

Rapid Cement Plant

Creek TBD TBD

Cement Plant

Creek 01 08-Aug-

00 BNT1, RB2

Cement Plant

Creek 02 15-Aug-

07 BN3

Rapid Crooked

Creek 4.124 TBD -

Rapid Cousin Jack

Creek WF-NY

Cousin Jack

Creek 01 11-Aug-

08

Cousin Jack

Creek 01 11-Aug-

93

Cousin Jack Creek 03

BK3 Cousin Jack

Creek 03 30-Jul-14 BK3

Rapid Deer Creek Entire stream 9.073 WF-NY

Deer Creek

01 08-Jul-08

Deer Creek 02

Deer Creek

02 03-Jul-14

Deer Creek 03

BK3 Deer Creek

03 28-Aug-

14 BK3

Rapid Ditch Creek Entire stream 3.1 WF-I

Ditch Creek 01

BK3 Ditch Creek

01 30-Jun-14 BK3

Ditch Creek 03

BK2 Ditch Creek

03 30-Jun-14 BK2

Rapid Dry Creek 4.001 TBD

Rapid Dutchman

Creek 4.197 TBD

Rapid East Gimlet

Creek 5.21 WF-NY

East Gimlet

Creek 01 16-Jun-08

East Gimlet Creek 02

BK3 East Gimlet

Creek 02 23-Jun-14 BK3


38

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments


BK3,BN3


06-Jun-14 BK3,B

N3

Rapid Gimlet Creek Entire stream 4.5 WF-NY

Gimlet Creek 01

BK3 Gimlet Creek

01 05-Jun-14 BK3

Gimlet Creek

02 01-Aug-

06

Gimlet Creek 25

BK3,BN2

Gimlet Creek 25

05-Jun-14 BK3,B

N2

Rapid Gold Run

(Castle Creek Trib.)

5.207 WF-NY

Gold Run Gulch 01

BK2,RB1

Gold Run Gulch 01

17-Jun-14 BK2,R

B1

Gold Run Gulch 02

BK2 Gold Run Gulch 02

26-Jun-14 BK2

Rapid Heely Creek Entire stream 4.4 WF-NY

Heely Creek

01 30-May-

08

Heely Creek 05

BK3 Heely Creek

05 24-Jun-14 BK3

Rapid Hop Creek 3.315 WF-NY

Hop Creek 01

Hop Creek 01 30-Jul-14

Hop Creek 02 11-Jul-94

Rapid Horsethief

Creek 0.8 TBD -

Rapid Iowa Ditch TBD TBD -

Rapid Lime Creek Entire stream 8.4 WF-NY

Lime Creek 01

BN1 Lime Creek

01 04-Sep-14 BN1

Lime Creek

02 04-Jul-00 BN1

Lime Creek

03 30-Jun-11 BN3

Lime Creek

04 30-Jun-11 BN3

Lime Creek 05

BN2,RB2

Lime Creek 05

04-Sep-14 BN2,R

B2

Rapid Nichols Creek Entire stream 2.156 WF-NY

Nichols Creek 02

BK3, RB2

Nichols Creek 02

18-Jun-14 BK3, RB2

Nichols Creek 03

Nichols

Creek 03 26-Jun-14

Rapid North Fork

Castle Creek Entire stream 7.3 WF-NY

North Castle Creek 01

22-Aug-10


39

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

North Castle

Creek 02 20-Jun-94

BK3, BN3

North Castle


North Castle

Creek 04 19-Aug-

10 BK3

Rapid North Fork

Rapid Creek Entire stream 10.6 WF-NY

North Rapid Creek 01

BN2 North Rapid

Creek 01 20-Jun-14 BN2

Bog iron seepage is heavy below Swilley Draw


BK2 North Rapid



BK2,BN2,RB

2


18-Jun-14 BK2,BN2,RB

2

North Rapid

Creek 03 21-Jul-10

BK2, BN3

Rapid Pole Creek 4.04 WF-NY

Pole Creek 01

BK3 Pole Creek

01 24-Jun-14 BK3

Pole Creek 02

BK3 Pole Creek

02 24-Jun-14 BK3

Rapid Prairie Creek Entire stream 3.6 WF-NY

Prairie Creek 01

BK3 Prairie Creek

01 28-May-

14 BK3

Prairie

Creek 02 BN2

Prairie Creek 02

26-Aug-14

BN2

Rapid Rapid Creek

(P)

2 Rapid City Sewage

Plant effluent to Canyon Lake

12.2 WF-NY

Rapid Creek

1369 30-Jul-13 BN1

Rapid Creek

1431 30-Jul-13

BN1, RB2

Rapid Creek

1420 23-Jul-12 BN1

Rapid Creek

1379 24-Jul-12 BN1

Rapid Creek

2155 01-Aug-

13 BK3, BN2

Rapid Creek

1407 29-Jul-13 BN1

Rapid Creek

1349 23-Jul-12 BN2

3 Canyon Lake to McGee Siding

9.6 HS-A

Rapid Creek

1456 29-Jul-13

BN1, RB1

Stocked at hatchery to Dark Canyon

Rapid Creek 1606

26-Jul-12 BN1, RB2


40

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Rapid Creek

1593 26-Jul-12 BN2

Rapid Creek

1496 10-Jul-12 BN2

Rapid Creek

1470 12-Jul-12

BN1, RB1

Rapid Creek

1462 06-Jul-12

BN2, RB1

4 McGee Siding to ½mi above Johnson Siding

7.2 WF-NY

Rapid Creek

1642 04-Jun-13 BN2

Rapid Creek 1741

07-Aug-13

BN2, RB2

5 ½mi above Johnson Siding to Old Bridge

above Placerville 4.3 WF-NY

Rapid Creek 1801

04-Aug-13

BN2, RB2

5.5 Old bridge above

Placerville to Pactola Res.

2.5 WF-M Rapid Creek

1821 31-Jul-13

BK3, BN2, RB2

Rapid Creek

1832 06-Aug-

13

BK3, BN2, RB2

Rapid Creek

1837 31-May-

13 BN2, RB2

Rapid Creek

1842 03-Jul-12

BK3, BN2, RB2

Rapid Creek

1806 05-Jul-12

BN1, RB2

6 Pactola Res. To 1mi below FS231 Mystic

Road 8

WT-NY-/HS-RBT- A, -M

Rapid Creek

1947 05-Aug-

13

BK3, BN2, RB1

Stocked at bridges from parking lot above Silver City to USGS gauging station. Stocked with 11” and 15” RBT.

Rapid Creek

1962 06-Aug-

13 BN2, RB1

Rapid Creek

1956 28-Jun-12

BK3, BN2, RB1

Rapid Creek

1932 27-Jun-12

BN2, RB2

7 Mystic Road (FS231) to confluence of N&S forks of Rapid Creek

6.4 WF-I

Rapid Creek 2093

BN2 Rapid Creek

2093 30-Jul-14 BN2

Rapid Creek

2127 BN2

Rapid Creek 2127

30-Jul-14 BN2

Rapid Creek

2182 27-Jul-12

BK3, BN2,


41

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

RB2

Rapid Rhodes Fork Entire stream 4.1 WF-NY

Rhodes Fork 01

BK3,BN1

Rhodes Fork 01

12-Jun-14 BK3,B

N1

Rhodes Fork 02

BK3,BN1

Rhodes Fork 02

12-Jun-14 BK3,B

N1

Rapid Shank Gulch

Creek 3.114 TBD -

Rapid Silver Creek

(Trib. Of Rapid)


Silver Creek (Trib. Of

Rapid) 02

BK3,BN3


Rapid) 02 09-Jun-14

BK3,BN3

Silver Creek

(Trib. Of Rapid) 03

BK3 Silver Creek

(Trib. Of Rapid) 03

23-Jun-14 BK3

Rapid Silver Creek

(Trib. Of Castle)

WF-NY


Castle) 01 BK3


Castle) 01 18-Jun-14 BK3


Castle) 03

BK3, RB2


Castle) 03 01-Jul-14

BK3, RB2

Rapid Slate Creek Entire stream 12.1 WF-NY

Slate Creek 117

BK3 Slate Creek

117 28-May-

14 BK3

Slate Creek

01 21-Jul-08

Slate Creek

02 19-Aug-

10

BK3,BN3,RB

2

Slate Creek

03 19-Aug-

10

BK3, BN3, RB2

Rapid South Fork

Castle Creek 4.8

WF-NY- U/ HS-RBT A

Castle Creek South 02

BK3,RB2


26-Jun-14 BK3,R

B2


BK2,RB1


19-Jun-14 BK2,R

B1

Rapid South Fork

Rapid Creek 1

Confluence with N Fork to confluence with Rhoads Fork

8.4 WF-NY

Rapid Creek South Fork

01 BN1


01 16-Jun-14 BN1

Bog iron in upper reach area


02 BN1


02 19-Jun-14 BN1

Rapid South Slate


Slate Creek South Fork

01

05-Aug-08


42

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments


02

BK3, RB2


02 17-Jun-14

BK3, RB2


03 BK3


03

13-Aug-14

BK3

Rapid South Victoria

Creek 3.166 TBD -

Rapid Summer Creek TBD TBD -

Rapid Swede Gulch 2.833 WF-NY

Swede Gulch

01 02-Aug-

94

Swede Gulch 02

BK2,BN3

Swede Gulch 02

16-Jun-14 BK2,B

N3

Rapid Tillson Creek TBD 8.9 WF-NY

Tillson Creek 02

BK3 Tillson Creek

02 11-Jun-14 BK3

Tillson Creek 03

BK3 Tillson Creek

03 30-Jun-14 BK3

Tillson Creek

01 17-Jun-08 BK3

Rapid Victoria Creek Entire stream 12 WF-NY

Victoria Creek 01

Victoria Creek 01

25-Jun-14

Victoria Creek 02

BK2 Victoria Creek 02

25-Jun-14 BK2

Rapid Victory Creek TBD -

Red Canyon East Fork

Hawkwright Creek

11.862 TBD -

Red Canyon Fourmile

Creek 9.916 TBD -

Red Canyon Hawkwright

Creek 5.041 TBD

Hawkwright Creek 01

13-Apr-09

Red Canyon Hay Creek 5.471 TBD -

Red Canyon Layton Canyon

12.124 TBD -

Red Canyon Lightning

Creek 12.004 TBD -

Red Canyon Martin Draw 3.683 TBD -

Red Canyon Ninemile Draw Entire stream 1.977 TBD -


43

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Red Canyon Pleasant

Valley Creek 12.535 TBD

Pleasant Valley Creek

02

26-May-09

Red Canyon Red Canyon

Creek 32.538 TBD -

Red Canyon S & G Canyon 3.385 TBD -

Red Canyon Stone Quarry

Canyon 4.582 TBD -

Red Canyon Warren Gulch 4.602 TBD -

Red Canyon West Fork

Hawkwright Creek

5.132 TBD -

Red Canyon White Draw 3.681 TBD -

Redwater Beaver Creek TBD

Redwater Beaver Creek

(Lawrence Co.)

TBD

Beaver Creek (Law. Co.) 01

15-Jul-93

Beaver Creek (Law. Co.) 02

10-Jul-08 BK2

Redwater Crow Creek TBD TBD WF-NY

Crow Ceek

(Trib. of Redwater) 01

28-Jul-08 BN2, RB1

Crow Ceek


29-Jul-08 BK3

Crow Ceek


09-Sep-93 BN1

Crow Ceek


28-Jul-08 BN2, RB1

Crow Ceek


18-Aug-08

BN3

Redwater Datum Creek TBD Datum Creek

01 25-Jul-08

Redwater Lake Creek Entire stream TBD WF-NY 29-Aug-

2006 BN2, RB2

Finescale dace present

Redwater Lightning

Creek TBD -

Redwater Middle Beaver

Creek TBD -


44

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Redwater Mill Creek TBD -

Redwater North Beaver

Creek TBD -

Redwater Potato Creek TBD -

Redwater Redwater

1 Confluence w Belle

Fourche River to Spearfish Creek

2 WF-I

2 Confluence of

Spearfish Creek to Chicken Creek

TBD TBD

3 Confluence of Chicken Creek to Crow Creek

TBD TBD

4 Confluence of Crow Creek to Wyoming

Line TBD TBD

Redwater South Beaver

Creek TBD -

Spearfish Annie Creek Entire stream 2.112 WF-NY

Annie Creek 01

Annie Creek

01 21-Aug-

14

Annie Creek

02 19-Jul-10 NWT

Annie Creek 03

Annie Creek

03 09-Jun-14

Annie Creek 06 28May14

BK3, BN3

Annie Creek 06 28May14

28-May-14

BK3, BN3

Annie Creek 06 22Aug14

BK2,BN3

Annie Creek 06 22Aug14

22-Aug-14

BK2,BN3

Annie Creek 07

Annie Creek

07 21-Aug-

14

Annie Creek

08 22-Oct-92 NWT

Annie Creek

09 27-Oct-92 NWT

Annie Creek

10 28-Aug-

07

Annie Creek 11

Annie Creek

11 28-May-

14

Annie Creek

12 19-Jul-10

Annie Creek 13

BK3, BN3

Annie Creek 13

09-Jun-14 BK3, BN3


45

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spearfish Breakneck

Gulch 1.494 TBD -

Spearfish Calamity

Gulch 2.061 TBD -

Spearfish Clayton Draw 1.717 TBD -

Spearfish Cole Creek 1.714 TBD -

Spearfish Dead Ox

Creek 3.604 TBD -

Spearfish Deadhorse

Gulch 2.058 TBD -

Spearfish Deer Creek TBD 1.389 TBD

Spearfish Dry Gulch 5.607 TBD

Spearfish East Branch Squaw Creek

1.474 TBD -

Spearfish East Fork

Higgins Gulch 2.876 TBD -

Spearfish East Spearfish Creek (a.k.a. Hanna Creek)

6.452 WF-NY

Hanna Creek

01 07-Jul-08 BN1

Hanna Creek 02

03-Jul-08 BN2

Hanna Creek

03 02-Jun-98

BK3, BN1

Spearfish Eleven Hour

Gulch 3.023 TBD -

Spearfish Fish Hatchery

Gulch 6.144 TBD -

Spearfish Griggs Gulch 1.266 TBD -

Spearfish Hellgate Gulch 1.168 TBD -

Spearfish Higgins Gulch Entire stream 18.136 WF-NY

Higgins

Gulch 01 13-Jun-95

BK3, BN3

Higgins

Gulch 02 02-Jun-94

Higgins

Gulch 03 10-Jul-08 BK3

Higgins

Gulch 04 01-Jul-04

Higgins

Gulch 05 01-Jul-04


46

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spearfish Hungry Hollow

Gulch 4.393 TBD -

Spearfish Icebox Gulch 2.468 TBD Ice Box

Gulch 01 01-Oct-04 BK2

Spearfish Intake Gulch 3.173 TBD Intake Gulch

01 08-Jul-08

BK3, BN3

Spearfish North Iron

Creek 5.527 WF-NY

Iron Creek North 01

BN1, RB1

Iron Creek North 01

25-Jun-14 BN1, RB1

Iron Creek North 02

21-Jul-04 NWT

Iron Creek North 03

09-Jul-08 BK2, BN2, RB2

Spearfish Jay Gulch TBD TBD Jay Gulch 01 10-Jul-08

Spearfish Johnson

Gulch 1.394 TBD -

Spearfish Keough Draw 2.026 NF 11-Aug-08 No Fish

Spearfish Labrador

Gulch 1.383 WF-NY

Labrador Creek 01

BK2 Labrador Creek 01

28-Aug-14

BK2

Spearfish Little

Spearfish Creek


Little

Spearfish Creek 01

08-Jul-08 BN1

Private access ponds (old hatchery) on stream

Little

Spearfish Creek 02

28-Oct-92 BK3

Little

Spearfish Creek 03

23-Oct-92 BN3

Little

Spearfish Creek 04

08-Jul-08 BN1

Spearfish Long Draw 2.721 TBD

Spearfish Long Valley 3.174 TBD -

Spearfish Lost Camp

Gulch 1.746 WF-NY

Lost Camp Gulch 01

Lost Camp Gulch 01

09-Jun-14

Lost Camp Gulch 02

19-Jul-10

Lost Camp Gulch 03

Lost Camp Gulch 03

22-Aug-14


47

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spearfish Maurice Gulch 1.041 TBD -

Spearfish McKinely

Gulch 1.971 TBD -

Spearfish Pettigrew

Gulch 2.354 TBD -

Spearfish Prospect

Gulch 1.612 TBD -

Spearfish Raddick Gulch 1.654 NF Raddick Gulch 01

14-Jul-08

Spearfish Raspberry

Gulch 2.669 TBD -

Spearfish Redpath

Gulch 1.23 TBD -

Spearfish Robinson

Gulch 4.111 TBD -

Spearfish Ross Valley WF-NY

Ross Valley

01 28-Aug-

07

Ross Valley 02

Ross Valley

02 21-Aug-

14

Spearfish Rubicon

Gulch 2.17 WF-NY

Rubicon Gulch Creek

01 BK2

Rubicon Gulch Creek

01

29-Aug-14

BK2

Spearfish Schoolhouse

Gulch 1.791 TBD -

Spearfish South Fork

Little Spearfish

4.895 TBD -

Spearfish Spearfish Creek (P)

1 Confluence of

Spearfish Creek and Redwater to I-90

6.509 WF-NY

Spearfish Creek 238

29-Sep-2000

BR2

Spearfish Creek 250

Spearfish Creek 253

29-Sep-2005

BR3 longnose

sucker present

2 I-90 to Homestake

Plant No 1 TBD WF-NY

Spearfish Creek 179

08-Aug-11

BN1

Spearfish Creek 189

22-Jul-13 BN1

Spearfish Creek 195

26-Aug-08

BN1

Spearfish Creek 198

10-Aug-11

BN1, RB1B

N1


48

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spearfish Creek 200

25-Aug-08

BN1, RB1

Spearfish Creek 205

10-Aug-11

BN1, RB2

Spearfish Creek 208

27-Aug-0810-

BN1

Spearfish Creek 220

24-Sep-91 BN3, RB2

Spearfish Creek 276

11-Aug-11

BN2

Spearfish Creek 293

29-Jul-11 BN1

3 Homestake Plant No 1 to dam for Spearfish

water supply 4.3 WF-NY

Spearfish Creek 307

11-Aug-11

BK3, BN 1

Usually dry

Spearfish Creek 327

28-Aug-08

BK3, BN1, RB2

Spearfish Creek 339

28-Aug-08

BK2, BN2

Spearfish Creek 354

24-Jul-13 BN1, RB1 BK2,

Spearfish Creek 357

11-Sep-08 BN1, RB1

5 Dam for Homestake No 1 to Homestake Power Plant No 2

1.6 WF-UT

Spearfish Creek 366

10-Sep-08 BN1, RB1

Spearfish Creek 374

09-Sep-08 BN2, RB2

6

Homestake No 2 to ½mi above confluence

of Little Spearfish Creek

6 WF-NY

Spearfish Creek 401

09-Sep-08 BN1

Spearfish Creek 406

25-Jul-13 BN1

Spearfish Creek 415

28-Jul-11 BN2, RB2

Spearfish Creek 422

24-Jul-11 BN1

Spearfish Creek 429

08-Sep-08 BN1, RB2

Spearfish Creek 432

08-Oct-08 BN1

Spearfish Creek 441

29-Jul-11 BN2

Spearfish Creek 453

04-Sep-08 BN1


49

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spearfish Creek 455

01-Aug-11

BN1

7 ½mi above Little

Spearfish Creek to Hanna Creek

5.6 WF-NY

Spearfish Creek 462

04-Sep-08 BN1

Spearfish Creek 465

03-Sep-08 BN1

Spearfish Creek 472

01-Aug-11

BN2

Spearfish Creek 480

22-Sep-08 BN1

Spearfish Creek 490

25-Jul-13 BN1

Spearfish Creek 510

02-Sep-08 BN1

Spearfish Creek 518

03-Aug-11

BN1

Spearfish Creek 522

24-Jul-13 BN1

Spearfish Creek 543

02-Sep-08 BN1

Spearfish Creek 549

04-Aug-11

BN1

Spearfish Creek 636

BK2,BN1

Spearfish Creek 636

25-Jun-14 BK2,B

N1

Spearfish Creek 574

18-Aug-08

BN1BK2

8 Confluence of Hanna Creek to headwaters

12.3 WF-NY

Spearfish Creek 585

23-Jul-13 BK3, BN1

Spearfish Creek 596

02-Aug-11

BN1BK3

Spearfish Creek 599

19-Aug-08

BK3, BN2

Spearfish Creek 601

19-Aug-08

BK3, BN1

Spearfish Creek 607

03-Aug-11

BN2BK3

Spearfish Creek 614

20-Aug-08

BK3, BN2

Spearfish Creek 622

21-Aug-08

BK3, BN2

Spearfish Creek 656

18-Aug- BK2B

K3

Spearfish Creek 650

09-Aug-11

BK1, BN2


50

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spearfish Creek 654

11-Aug-11

BK1

Spearfish

Creek 3745 27-Jul-11

BN2, RB2B

K1

Spearfish Cleopatra


Cleopatra Creek 01

25-Aug-10

Sampled by an Unknown Consultant Firm for Mining

Cleopatra Creek 02

22-Sep-04 BK3 Sampled by KNK Aquatic Ecology

Cleopatra Creek 03

BK2 Cleopatra Creek 03

29-Aug-14

BK2

Cleopatra Creek 04


Cleopatra Creek 05


Cleopatra Creek 06


27-Aug-14

BK2

Cleopatra Creek 07

24-Sep-04 Sampled by KNK Aquatic Ecology

Cleopatra Creek 08


28-Aug-14

BK1

Cleopatra Creek 09

25-Aug-05

BK3

Sampled by Chadwick Ecological Services

Cleopatra Creek 10

18-Sep-07 BK2, BN3, RB2

Cleopatra Creek 11

31-Aug-06

Cleopatra Creek 12

Cleopatra Creek 12

19-Aug-14

Spearfish Sweet Betsey

Gulch 1.698 TBD -


51

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spearfish Timber Gulch 3.608 TBD -

Spearfish Ward Draw Entire stream 4.35 WF-NY

Ward Draw

01 03-Jul-08 BK3

Ward Draw

02 04-Jun-97 BK2

Spearfish Wildcat Gulch 1.88 TBD -

Spring Creek Battleax Creek 1.595 TBD -

Spring Creek Bear Gulch Entire stream 3.964 WF-UT

-

Spring Creek Bitter Creek 2.964 TBD -

Spring Creek Black Miner

Gulch 3.354 TBD -

Spring Creek Burnt Fork 2.79 TBD -

Spring Creek Calument

Creek TBD -

Spring Creek China Gulch 8.016 TBD -

Spring Creek Clog Gulch 2.562 TBD -

Spring Creek Coon Hollow 1.07 TBD -

Spring Creek Cowboy Gulch 1.655 TBD -

Spring Creek Deadman

Creek TBD TBD -

Spring Creek Dutch Creek 1.175 TBD -

Spring Creek East China

Gulch 1.437 TBD -

Spring Creek Gordon Gulch 4.696 TBD -

Spring Creek Graveyard

Gulch 0.865 TBD -

Spring Creek Hay Draw 2.394 TBD -

Spring Creek Horse Creek Entire stream 8.022 WF-NY

Horse Creek 01

13-May-09

NWT

Horse Creek 02

13-May-09

NWT

Spring Creek Joe Dollar

Gulch 1.426 TBD -

Spring Creek Johnson Canyon

1.085 TBD -


52

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spring Creek Johnson

Gulch 3.437 TBD -

Spring Creek Lena Gulch 4.116 TBD -

Spring Creek Little

Thompson Draw

0.706 TBD -

Spring Creek Long Draw 1.933 TBD -

Spring Creek Loves Creek 5.246 TBD -

Spring Creek Marshall

Gulch 6.057 TBD -

Spring Creek Medicine

Creek 4.502 TBD -

Spring Creek Moonshine

Canyon 2.031 TBD -

Spring Creek Negro Creek TBD TBD -

Spring Creek Nelson Creek 2.358 TBD -

Spring Creek Newton Fork


Newton Fork Creek 01

20-May-09

BK2, RB2

Spring Creek Palmer Gulch 8.472 TBD Palmer Gulch

01 13-May-

09 NWT

Spring Creek Patterson

Creek 4.189 TBD -

Spring Creek Penalua Gulch 3.934 TBD -

Spring Creek Prairie

Chicken Draw 2.252 TBD -

Spring Creek Rabbit Gulch 4.272 TBD -

Spring Creek Red Dog

Gulch 0.409 TBD -

Spring Creek Reno Gulch 6.151 TBD -

Spring Creek Rockerville

Gulch 11.821 TBD -

Spring Creek Ruby Creek 1.365 TBD

Spring Creek Ruby Gulch 1.21 TBD -

Spring Creek South Fork

Whaley Gulch 1.189 TBD -


53

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Spring Creek Spring Creek

(Trib. Of Cheyenne)

Spring Creek (Trib

of Cheyenne)

01

RB2 Spring Creek

(Trib of Cheyenne) 01

04-Aug-14

RB2

Spring Creek


21-Sep-00 BK2, BN1

Spring Creek (Trib of Cheyenne) 03

28-Jul-93 BK3, BN3

Spring Creek


23-Jul-09 BK3, BN2, RB2

Spring Creek


31-Jul-06 BK3

Spring Creek (Trib

of Cheyenne)

06

BK2 Spring Creek


23-Jun-14 BK2

Spring Creek


23-Jul-09

Spring Creek


03-Aug-09

RB2

Spring Creek


11-Sep-96 BN2

Spring Creek


13-Aug-09

Spring Creek


08-Sep-98 BK3, BN1

Spring Creek


16-Aug-11

BN2, RB2

Spring Creek


20-Oct-97 BK3, BN3

Spring Creek

(Trib of 15-Aug-

11 NWT


54

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Cheyenne) 14

Spring Creek Spring Creek

2 ¼mi above US16 to Sheridan Lake Road

3 WF-I

3 Sheridan Lake Road to

Sheridan Lake 4.1 WF-I

Stocked at bridges and access points

4 Sheridan Lake to 2½mi

west of US385 18.6 WF-I

Stocked at bridges and access points

5 2½mi above US385 to


Spring Creek Sunday Gulch TBD 8.969 HS Sunday

Gulch 01 13-May-

09

Spring Creek Tenderfoot

Creek TBD 5.046 TBD

Tenderfoot Creek 01

15-May-09

Spring Creek Tenderfoot

Gulch 1.778 TBD -

Spring Creek Thompson

Draw 1.28 TBD -

Spring Creek Tree Draw 0.824 TBD -

Spring Creek Vanderlehr

Creek TBD 12.623 TBD

Vanderlehr Creek 01

16-Jun-93 BK3, BN3

Vanderlehr Creek 02

05-Jun-09 BK,3

Spring Creek Victoria Gulch 3.499 TBD -

Spring Creek Whaley Gulch 2.802 TBD -

Spring Creek White House

Gulch 1.339 TBD -

Spring Creek Whitehorse

Creek 3.565 TBD -

Spring Creek Willow Creek 2.299 TBD Willow Creek

01 11-Jun-09 BK3

Whitewood City Creek 1.993 WF-NY City Creek

01 NWT City Creek 01 02-Sep-14 NWT


55

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Whitewood Blacktail

Gulch WF-NY

Blacktail Gulch 01

BK2 Blacktail Gulch 01

25-Aug-14

BK2

Blacktail Gulch 02

BK2 Blacktail Gulch 02

03-Sep-14 BK2

Whitewood Deadwood

Creek TBD 5.56 WF-NY

Deadwood Creek 01

26-Aug-10

BK2

Sampled by Unknown Consultant Firm for Mining

Deadwood Creek 02

BK1 Deadwood Creek 02

29-Aug-14

BK1

Deadwood Creek 03

15-Sep-95 Sampled by OEA Research Inc.

Deadwood Creek 04

31-Aug-01


Deadwood Creek 05

16-Jul-08 BK2, BN1

Deadwood Creek 06


21-Aug-14

BK3

Deadwood Creek 07

10-Oct-91 BK3


Deadwood Creek 08


27-Aug-14

BK1

Deadwood Creek 09


26-Aug-14

BK1

Deadwood Creek 11


26-Aug-14

BK2

Deadwood Creek 10


02-Sep-14 BK3

Deadwood Creek 12

26-Aug-10

Whitewood Englewood

Creek

Reno Creek to ½mi above Englewood

6.5 HS

Whitewood Fantail Creek 1.751 WF-NY Fantail

Creek 01 BK3

Fantail Creek 01

27-Aug-14

BK3


56

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Fantail Creek

02 15-Jul-08 BK2

Fantail Creek 03

Fantail Creek

03 19-Aug-

14

Whitewood Gold Run 1.327 TBD

Gold Run 02 26-Aug-

13

Gold Run 01 28-Aug-

13

Whitewood Grizzly Gulch

Creek WF-NY

Grizzly Gulch

01 31-Jul-08 BK2

Grizzly Gulch 02 7Aug14

BK3,BN2


07-Aug-14

BK3,BN2


BK3,BN3


25-Aug-14

BK3,BN3

Whitewood Nevada Gulch

Creek 2.905 WF-NY

Nevada Gulch Creek

01 BK2

Nevada Gulch Creek

01

27-Aug-14

BK2

Nevada Gulch Creek

01

Nevada Gulch Creek

01

18-Aug-14

Nevada

Gulch 02 26-Aug-

14

Nevada

Gulch 03 15-Jul-08

Whitewood Sandy Creek 2.213 TBD -

Whitewood Sawpit Creek Sawpit 01 Dry 2014

Whitewood Sheeptail

Creek WF-NY

Sheeptail Creek 01

BK2 Sheeptail Creek 01

03-Sep-14 BK2

Whitewood Slaughterhous

e Creek

Slaughterhouse Creek 01

Dry 2014

Whitewood Spring Creek TBD TBD

Whitewood Stewart Gulch

Creek WF-NY

Stewart Gulch Creek

01 BK1

Stewart Gulch Creek

01

20-Aug-14

BK1


57

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Whitewood West

Strawberry Creek

2.976 WF-NY

West Strawberry

01

BK2,BN2

West Strawberry

01

07-Aug-14

BK2,BN2

West

Strawberry 02

15 October

1998 BK3

Whitewood Whitetail

Creek TBD 5.247 WF-NY

Whitetail Creek 01

BN1 Whitetail Creek 01

30-Jun-14 BN1

Whitetail Creek 03

BK2 Whitetail Creek 03

20-Aug-14

BK2

Whitetail Creek 04

BK2 Whitetail Creek 04

27-Aug-14

BK2

Whitewood Whitewood

Creek 2

I-90 to confluence with Whitetail and Englewood

25.802 WF-I-NY-NF

Whitewood Creek 01

BN1,RB2

Whitewood Creek 01

28-Jul-14 BN1,R

B2

Whitewood

Creek 02 11-Oct-96

Whitewood Creek 03

BN2,RB2

Whitewood Creek 03

29-Jul-14 BN2,R

B2

Whitewood

Creek 04 24-Sep-97

BK2, BN3

Sampled by OEA Research Inc.

Whitewood Creek 05

BN 3 Whitewood

Creek 05 24-Jul-14 BN3

Whitewood

Creek 06 28-Aug-

13 BK3, BN1

Whitewood

Creek 07 27-Oct-93

BK3, BN3


Whitewood Creek 08

BN 1 Whitewood


Whitewood

Creek 09 27-Aug-

13 BN1

Sampled by GEI

Whitewood

Creek 10 19-Sep-99

BK2, BN2

Sampled by KNK Aquatic Ecology

Whitewood

Creek 11 18-Sep-99

BK2, BN1

Sampled by KNK Aquatic Ecology

Whitewood

Creek 12 15-Sep-95



58

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Whitewood

Creek 13 17-Sep-95


Whitewood Creek 14

Bk 3, BN 1

Whitewood Creek 14

22-Jul-14 BK3,B

N1

Whitewood Creek 15

BK 2 ,BN1

Whitewood Creek 15

22-Jul-14 BK2,B

N1

Whitewood Creek 16

BK3, BN 1

Whitewood Creek 16

24-Jul-14 BK3,B

N1

Whitewood

Creek 17 11-Jul-13

BK3, BN1

Whitewood

Creek 19 24-Oct-12 BN3


Whitewood

Creek 20 23-Oct-12 BN3


Whitewood

Creek 21 17-Aug-

09 NWT

Whitewood

Creek 22 24-Oct-12 NWT

Whitewood


Whitewood

Creek 24 22-Aug-

10 BK2, BN2

Whitewood

Creek 25 12-Aug-

09 BN2, RB2

Whitewood

Creek 26 04-May-

05 BN1

Whitewood


Whitewood

Creek 28 11-Jul-13 NWT

Whitewood

Creek 29 23 JULE

2009 BN3


59

Watershed Stream or

watercourse Reach



Current Management

Option 2014 Site

Trout Class

in 2014


Trout Class

Comments

Whitewood Yellow Creek Entire stream 2.689 WF-NY

Yellow Creek

01 21-Jul-08 BK2

Yellow Creek 02

BK3 Yellow Creek

02 25-Aug-

14 BK3


60

References Bailey, R. M., and M. O. Allum. 1962. Fishes of South Dakota (No. 119). Ann Arbor:

Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. Bucholz, M. N., and J. W. Wilhite. 2010. Statewide fisheries survey, 2009 survey of public

waters Part 1/ streams. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Wildlife Division Report 10–09, Pierre.

Davis, J. L. 2012. Contribution of naturally reproduced rainbow trout to the fishery in

Deerfield Reservoir. M.S. thesis. South Dakota State University, Brookings. Erickson, J., R. Koth and L. Vanderbush. 1993. 1993 Black Hills Streams Management Plan. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. F-21-R-26, Job 1, Pierre. Erickson, J. W., S. J. Kenner, and B. A. Barton. 2005. Physiological stress response of brown

trout to storm water runoff events in Rapid Creek, Rapid City, South Dakota. In Brown, L.R., Gray, R.H., Hughes, R.M. and Meador, M.R., eds. Effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems. American Fisheries Society Symposium: AFS, pp. 117–132.

Everman, B. W., and U. O. Cox. 1896. A report upon the fishes of the Missouri River basin.

Report to the U.S. Commission on Fish and Fisheries 20:325–429. Ford, R. C. 1988. Black Hills Stream Inventory and Classification 1984 and 1985. South Dakota

Game, Fish and Parks, Wildlife Division Report 88–1, Pierre. James, D. A. 1999. Seasonal movements of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) in Rapid Creek within

Rapid city, South Dakota. Master’s thesis. University of South Dakota, Vermillion. James, D. A., J. W. Erickson and B. A. Barton. 2007. Brown trout seasonal movement patterns

and habitat use in an urbanized South Dakota stream. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 27: 978–985.

James, D. A. 2011a. Spawning-related movement patterns of a unique rainbow trout

(Oncorhyncus mykiss) population in a South Dakota headwater stream. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 26:43–50.

James, D. A. 2011b. The influence of Didymosphenia geminata on fisheries resources in the

Black Hills of South Dakota. Doctoral Dissertation. South Dakota State University, Brookings.

James, D. A. 2013. Risk Potential for the Aquatic Invasive Species Didymosphenia geminata to

Bloom in Selected Streams of the Black Hills, South Dakota. Longmire, C. L. 2015. Black Hills Fisheries Management: 2014 Angler Opinion Survey Results.

Report ID# HD-1-15.AMS. Pierre, SD: South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks. SDGFP (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks). 2014a. Statewide Fisheries Plan. Wildlife

Division, Pierre.


61

SDGFP (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks). 2014b. Black Hills Fisheries Management Plan. Wildlife Division, Pierre.

Miller, W. and G. Galinat. 2009. State Fisheries Surveys, 2008 Surveys of Public Waters Part 1

Lakes. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks Annual Report, 09-10.Pierre. NANPCA (Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act). 1990. PL 101–

646, Washington. Schultz, L. D. 2011. Environmental factors associated with long-term trends of mountain sucker

populations in the Black Hills, and an assessment of their thermal tolerance. M.S. Thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings.

SDGFP (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks). 1994. Systematic approach to management.

Wildlife Division, Pierre. Simpson, G., M. Whitcher, and L. Ferber. 2007. Angler use and harvest surveys on Mirror Lake

#1 and #2, South Dakota, 1997-1998. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Annual Report No. 97-9, Pierre.

Simpson, G. 2007b. Angler use and harvest survey on Rapid Creek, Spearfish Creek, Crow

Creek and Grace Coolidge walk-in fishing area, South Dakota, May-August, 2006. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Completion Report No. 07-24, Pierre.

Simpson, G. 2011a. Angler use and harvest survey on Spearfish Creek, South Dakota,May-

August, 2010. South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Completion Report No.11-05, Pierre.

Stewart, K., and C. Thilenius. 1964. Stream and Lake Inventory and Classification in the Black

Hills of South Dakota, 1964. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. F-1-R-13, Job Numbers 14 and 15.


62

Appendices Appendix 1. Open House angler comments concerning streams in western South Dakota. Comments collected at Open House, February 28, 2012

Fear of hurting Sheridan by drawdowns for Spring Creek

Elk Creek – Good Fishing!!

Expand Catch and Release in Rapid City

Do habitat work on Rapid Creek in town

Has there been return on SMB in Rapid Creek?

Sheridan shouldn’t be drawn down to fill Spring Creek

Spring Creek below Sheridan – mimic Grace Coolidge Walk-in-Pools

Large fish in BoxElder Creek 15 years ago

Add Cleopatra Creek to Catch and Release

BNT in Spring Creek

Keep 1 over 14 regulation

Maintain ongoing habitat work

Applaud rehab project in Pactola Basin

Increase law enforcement in Basin. Applaud Meiers for what he does do!

2 fish limit instead of 5 on streams

Trap and transfer BKT to places they used to be and are disconnected from main streams

Water specific stream regulations depending on current conditions – example would be drought or high water, sampling results, etc. – other states change regulations each year and are water specific.

Comments collected at Open House, January 17, 2013

Catch and release on Rapid Creek in Rapid City

Catch and release everywhere

Cutthroat trout stocked everywhere

Status of Redwater??

Catch and release in Rapid City

Work with Forest Service so no more cattle leases in Black Hills – stream damage by cattle is significant – and impacts drinking water quality in Rapid Creek

Spring Creek (Flume Trail) water issue

2 fish limit on BH trout streams instead of current limit of 5

Catch and release and artificial only on Rapid Creek though Rapid City limits

Specific management plans and fisheries goals for each watershed

50% increase in number of miles of catch and release stream fishing

Special regulations on high traffic areas – Silver City, Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake, Spring Creek

Add aquatic plants in the Silver City area of Rapid Creek to improve food source for fish

Update BH stream management plan with specifics for major creeks (Rapid Creek, Spring Creek, Castle Creek and Spearfish Creek)

Extend Pactola Basin project throughout catch and release stretch – to Placerville

Need to stock more brown trout as self-sustaining species in Black Hills streams

Develop watershed and/or stream specific regulations


63

Comments collected at Open House, January 22, 2014:

Need habitat work on Spring Creek below Sheridan Lake to create deep holes (>5 per mile)

Need maintenance on habitat projects in Rapid Creek in Rapid City Appendix 2. Historical Synopsis of Special Management Regulations within the Black Hills Trout Management Area. 1981 Creation of Hanna Creek Special Management Area

Catch and Release

Barbless, artificial lure only

Possession of trout or natural (organic) baits with 100 feet of stream is prohibited

Creation of Rapid Creek I Special Management Area (from Kelly Gulch to Castle Creek)

Daily limit of one trout 15 inches or longer

Barbless, Artificial lures only

Possession of trout smaller than 15 inches or natural (organic baits) with 100 feet of stream is prohibited

Creation of Rapid Creek II Special Management Area (from Lake Pactola to the confluence of the north and south forks of Rapid Creek except the waters described in Rapid Creek I above)

Daily trout limit is 8, only one which may be a brown trout longer than 15 inches

October 1 through December 31 1985 Removal of barbless hooks requirement for artificial lures

Regulations on Rapid Creek II were made year round

Creation of Maurice Special Management Area on Spearfish Creek

Catch and Release

artificial lures only

Possession of trout or natural (organic) baits with 100 feet of stream is prohibited 1988 Rapid Creek Special Management unit I Eliminated 1991 Creation of Pactola Basin Area from bridge below Pactola Dam to Foot Bridge at

Placerville Camp

Catch and release

Artificial lures only Creation of Silver City Special management area on Rapid Creek from USFS turnaround at Silver City to Confluence with Castle Creek

Silver City, Hanna, and Maurice areas were changed to the following restrictions

Daily limit is 4 brown trout 11 inches or less

Brown trout over 11 inches and all rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout must be released

Artificial lures only


64

Possession of organic bait within 100 feet of stream is prohibited Modified text for size limits to include: Where and when size limits applied, all species of fish in possession must be whole and only gills, entrails and scales could be removed

1993 Only 1 brown or rainbow trout over 14 inches could be included in the daily limit

Only 1 brook trout over 12 inches could be included in daily limit Anglers could take an additional limit of 8 brook trout under 8 inches in length

1994 Pactola Basin Area expanded to include section of stream from outlet of stilling basin to

the footbridge at Placerville 1997 Artificial Lures definition modified to:

“Article lures include flies, jigs, spoons, spinners and plugs made of metal, plastic, wood, hair, feathers and other nonedible materials. Artificial lures do not include fish eggs, moldable scented baits, naturally occurring foods or man-made food.”

Created and Defined Black Hills Trout Management Area

Daily limit reduced to 5 trout with only 1 over 14 inches allowed

Eliminated Silver City Special Management Area on Rapid Creek

Eliminated Hanna Creek Special Management Area

Created of Yates Ponds Special Management Area

Catch and release

Artificial lures only Created Crow Creek Special Management area from GFP property to Redwater and Meadow Brook Golf Course Special Management Area on Rapid Creek

Trout over 10 inches must be released

Artificial lures only Modified Maurice Special Management Area to allow taking of all trout EXCEPT rainbow trout Expanded Pactola Basin Special Management Area to include the Stilling Basin

2000 Eliminated Crow Creek Special Management Area 2004 Highgrading of trout within the BHTMA is not permitted 2010 Creek chubs may be taken by hook and line (by licensed anglers) for use in waters

where live minnows or baitfish are allowed


65

Appendix 3. Summary of questions and comments heard during the Black Hills Stream Fish Management meeting, May 16, 2013. An open public meeting regarding only stream fish management in the Black Hills was held 7PM to 9 PM on May 16, 2013 at the Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City. The meeting began with a presentation by Game, Fish and Parks staff of results from the stream surveys conducted during 2012. A question and comment period (lasted 50 minutes) for anglers to visit with fisheries staff followed and below are topics and questions addressed.

Is it possible to put a Catch and Release sign at the top of the road into Pactola Basin?

Do the Game and Fish have data on mink predation, how many they eat in a day, etc?

Concern for electrofishing surveys and impacts this method has on fish.

Any theory on why recruitment or survival appears to be low for adult fish in streams?

Cutthroat, once they were stocked and appreciated, why not try them again?

No data behind Baken Park.

Do water levels correspond to high trout number years?

Is there public access to McGee Siding area?

Seems to be a decrease in numbers of trout once you get to the 12 inch size.

Is there data on angling pressure to compare what past pressure was compared to now?

How often is Rapid Creek in the Basin area patrolled?

Do you see Rainbow trout recruited to adult sizes?

Status of Didymo?

If we are stocking Rainbow trout at $3 per fish, they anglers are getting a good deal. We should have lower limits so anglers don’t take more than their license cost.

Do you see a decline in the Rapid Creek fishery? Would like to see a wild fishery in Rapid City.

What is the stocking cycle in creeks?

Abundance of trout in Rapid City is high, quality of habitat is good, but 15 inch trout are hard to come by.

Used to get 13 to 16 inch trout from Rapid Creek in Rapid City, by now only fish up to 13 inches.

More and more people fishing and some are taking trout home.

Would like to see more catch and release in Rapid Creek in Rapid City. General impression is the fish in the Golf Course (catch and release area) portion of the creek are bigger.

Shouldn’t Rapid Creek in Rapid City be patrolled by game wardens?

Quality wild trout fisheries not as many as we think. These rare fisheries are unique. Our regulations are very simple while other states are more complex. Need to manage to potential and bring back Class 1 fisheries.

Larger trout in the deeper holes and some anglers specifically fish these. Need more areas for these larger fish.

Enjoy catching wild trout and believe anglers are keeping too many larger trout.

Have been interviewed by angler survey clerks in Rapid City, three times last year, but never checked by a game warden.

Need projects in streams, in areas identified as needing some improvements. Small scale projects would be good.

I didn’t realize people eat trout! And past habitat projects are in need of work. They are no longer functioning as they were intended.


66

Spring Creek, the valve is not being used. Need small ponds or deep holes added to the creek below Sheridan to benefit the fishery in this area.

Need to manage for different anglers. Specific fishing areas for the different types of angler.

What we have in the Black Hills is ridiculously special. Take people out on a trip and they want to come back to this place.

Appendix 4. Subunits/watersheds of the Black Hills Fisheries Management Area with associated hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) created by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Watershed Name HUC

Battle Creek 1012010908

Bear Butte 1012020207

Beaver Creek West 1012010704

Beaver Creek 1012010902

Box Elder Creek 1012011103

Chicken Creek 101202030104

Crow Creek 1012020301

Elk Creek 1012011106

Fall River 1012010901


French Creek 1012010906

Lame Johnny Creek 1012010904

Pass Creek 1012010705

Rapid Creek 1012011001, 1012011002

Red Canyon Creek 1012020303

Spring Creek 1012010909, 1012010910

Spearfish Creek 10120203

Whitewood Creek 1012020202

Fisheries Management Plan for Black Hills Streams, 2015-2019 Rapid Creek Watershed

67


68

Rapid Creek Watershed Description The Rapid Creek watershed is the largest within the BHFMA covering approximately 277,400 acres. Rapid Creek is also the largest stream in the BHFMA. Its watershed supplies municipal water to the city of Rapid City and other surrounding communities. It is also an important stream for anglers and has two dams on it creating Pactola Reservoir and Canyon Lake, which provide many forms of recreation. The Rapid Creek watershed begins with its headwaters north and west of the town of Rochford and with the Castle Creek forks located south of Deerfield Reservoir. Castle Creek runs through Deerfield Reservoir and enters Rapid Creek near Mystic. Rapid Creek runs east through Pactola Reservoir, Canyon Lake, and Rapid City before entering the Cheyenne River about 13 miles east of Farmingdale. The upper Rapid Creek watershed is located in a pine/spruce forest which is largely managed by the United States Forest Service. Although Rapid Creek is highly regulated by dams at Deerfield and Pactola reservoirs, Rapid Creek, like most streams in the Black Hills, can experience drastic changes in flow. The area above Pactola Reservoir is affected by flows coming out of Deerfield Reservoir into Castle Creek and by runoff from the upper part of the watershed. The lower part of Rapid Creek is mostly affected by flows coming out of Pactola Reservoir, which is regulated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Most of western South Dakota experienced moderate to severe drought from 2002 to 2008 (USGS 2008), followed by four years of above average moisture, and in 2012, lower than average moisture. Mean annual flow was as high as 140 cubic feet per second (cfs) in 1997, as low as 23 cfs in 2008, and back up to 92 cfs in 2011. This included daily flows over 400 cfs in 1996, as low as 12 cfs in 2008, over 300 cfs in 2010, and again over 400 cfs in 2011. These variable flow events affected fish populations and habitat throughout Rapid Creek. Another concern for Rapid Creek fish populations is the invasive diatom didymo that was discovered in 2002. By 2004, large mats of didymo were present in the creek and generated complaints about esthetics, and water quality. Around the same time a decline in the trout population and a change in population structure became apparent. Thereafter, research began to determine the relationship between didymo and the trout population (James et al. 2010a, James et al. 2010b). Stream Fisheries Management The majority of Rapid Creek and its tributaries are managed as wild fish (natural yield) fisheries with a daily limit of five trout (in any combination) with one allowed 14 inches or longer. Two areas of Rapid Creek are managed with a catch and release, no organic bait regulation for all trout. These are: 1) a two-mile stretch from the footbridge at Placerville Church Camp to Pactola Dam, including the stilling basin, and 2) the area in Rapid City from Jackson Boulevard upstream through the Meadowbrook Golf Course to Park Drive. Two areas of Rapid Creek are managed with catchable rainbow trout stockings. One of these is from Braeburn Park (above Cleghorn Fish Hatchery) upstream to the United States Geologic Survey gaging station. This area receives monthly stockings of 125 catchable (11 inch) rainbow trout from May through August. The other area is from Silver City (above Pactola Reservoir) upstream into a walk-in-


69

fishery. This area is supplemented with five rainbow trout stockings of 300 11-inch fish and 15 15-inch fish from April to August. In addition to Rapid Creek, one area on Castle Creek is managed with hatchery rainbow trout. Catchable size rainbow trout are stocked from Castle Peak Campground to the Castle Creek confluence with Rapid Creek, providing anglers 11 inch trout to catch. Stream Habitat Water quality, flow and habitat are critical components of Rapid Creek watershed trout fishery. Trout populations typically decrease during drought periods or with repeated years of low winter time flows. High flow periods can also impact trout populations and change habitat features over time. For example, between 1995-1999, record high flows during the months of May-August occurred with corresponding high wintertime flows. The high flows impacted the stream bed and sediment distribution along the creek below Pactola Dam. Habitat features such as aquatic macrophytes and woody debris, critical for providing cover for various trout life stages, are lost during these high and low flow events. Between 1977-1991 twelve miles of Rapid Creek were improved. Table 2 summarizes these habitat improvements. Table 2. Stream habitat projects within the Rapid Creek Watershed, South Dakota. NA-Not available.

Location Year Miles Cost

Sioux Park 1977 2.8 $100,000

Baken Park 1979 0.6 $100,000

Sioux Park and Black Hills Packing Plant 1983 0.5 $45,000

Black Hills Packing Plant 1984 1.5 $84,000

Cleghorn Fish Hatchery 1988 0.5 $35,000

5th Street to Maple Ave 1989-1900 0.7 $44,200

Maple Ave to Fairgrounds 1990-1991 0.7 $49,500

Below Pactola 1987-1988 1.5 $43,155

Above Pactola 1989-1990 2.8 $75,000

Silver City and Hisega 1990-1991 0.9 $51,635

Castle Creek, Instream cover 1991 2.0 $37,158

Castle Creek, Barte, instream cover 1994 0.1 NA

Johnson Siding, Mckie, instream habitat 1995 0.2 NA

Pactola Basin, Holding cover 1997 0.5 $8,710

Pactola Basin check structure, passage 1999 1.0 $114,279

Castle Creek Riparian Fence 2001 0.5 $15,587

Rapid Creek in Rapid City, Habitat and Park development

2002 0.5 $220,000

Castle and Rapid Creek, Willow planting 2003 0.5 $5,000


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Additional projects include riparian fencing on Dumont Pond and Castle Creek, several SIP (Stream Improvement Projects) on private ground and bank stabilization below Pactola Basin. Numerous studies in cooperation with the South Dakota School of Mines and South Dakota State University have also been completed. Due to high flow events, aging of materials, and changes in stream characteristics, not all habitat projects implemented for Rapid and Castle Creeks continue to achieve their designed purpose. Maintenance of structures is an ongoing need and part of coldwater habitat enhancement efforts. Stream Access State law allows use of “navigable” streams as long as the angler stays within the watered area or within the “high water mark”. The high water mark is indicated by the continuous presence and action of water where a distinct mark is left either by erosion, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, or some other easily recognized characteristic (1985 S.D.Sess.Laws ch. 337, § 2). Legal access to the watered area within a South Dakota Black Hills stream is accomplished in two ways: 1) by permission of an adjacent landowner if the land is closed or posted, or 2) via a public right-of-way, such as road crossing or public land. The above rules allow for fishing throughout most of the Rapid Creek watershed. Streams within the watershed are available for year-round open-water fishing. High flows at certain times (particularly spring and early summer) can limit access within the streams, but if adjacent land is public or landowner access is granted on private land, shore fishing is a year round opportunity. Popular fishing areas with good access on Rapid Creek are around Pactola Reservoir and within Rapid City. Trail access and parking are provided via short gravel roads to the immediate areas of Rapid Creek above and below Pactola Reservoir. Access to Rapid Creek within the limits of Rapid City is easily accomplished by way of a concrete path running adjacent to the creek through the city. Access is also good along a large portion of Castle Creek. Above Deerfield Reservoir access via vehicle is provided by FS Rd 291. This road parallels Castle Creek for about two miles and then continues along almost the entirety of Ditch Creek. Immediately below Deerfield Reservoir walking access is provided for about 1½ miles along FS Rd 371 and further down the creek along FS Rd 187 (through Castle Peak Campground) nearly to its confluence with Rapid Creek. Issues Information gained from a 2014 focus group of Black Hills stream anglers, public open house events, SDGFP staff, and the 2015 Black Hills Angler Survey (Longmire in prep.) was used to identify management issues. Not surprisingly, many of the issues identified for the Rapid Creek watershed were identified for Black Hills streams or the BHFMA in general and are also included in those plans, while other issues were specific to the Rapid Creek watershed.

1. Conflicting angler preferences require multiple management strategies.


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Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 2 and BHFMA Plan Issue 3

2. Angler compliance with existing regulations in the BHFMA is unknown. Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 4 and BHFMA Plan Issue 7

3. Stream flows are impacted by human activities, including urban development. Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 8 and BHFMA Plan Issue 13

4. Management to produce maximum angler satisfaction may require complex and/or

water-specific regulations. Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 9 BHFMA Plan Issue 14

5. Native fish populations might be negatively impacted by habitat loss and fish introductions.

Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issues 7 and BHFMA Plan Issues 11 &12

6. Long-term planning is required to implement habitat and access projects on federal lands.


7. Population genetics information, including genetic health and source strains, is unknown for nearly all naturally-reproducing trout populations.


8. Factors affecting trout reproduction and recruitment are unknown for many streams. Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 20 and BHFMA Plan Issue 28

9. Streams sometimes don’t meet their designated fish classification. Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 29

10. No objective measure of success exists for trophy or memorable trout management in

BHFMA streams. Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 33

11. Mid-sized brown trout are lacking below Pactola Reservoir. 12. High water releases from Pactola Reservoir may have removed critical habitat for large

trout. 13. The locations of critical spawning areas are unknown in Rapid Creek and Castle Creek. 14. Trout mortality in Rapid Creek caused by terrestrial predators is largely unquantified. 15. Regulations on Rapid Creek within the city limits of Rapid City may not be meeting

angler expectations. 16. Iron deposits may be negatively affecting stream productivity in certain sections of Rapid

Creek and Castle Creek.


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17. Spatial and temporal variation in didymo prevalence may be negatively impacting fisheries.

18. Lack of control over water releases from Pactola and Deerfield Dams can make

management of downstream fisheries difficult. 19. Brown trout densities and sizes immediately above Pactola Reservoir and in the Silver

City walk-in area do not meet some angler’s expectations. Goal, Objectives, Strategies Goal: Manage the Rapid Creek watershed for long-term sustainable use and enjoyment. The following objectives and strategies address many of the Issues identified for the Rapid Creek watershed. Completing these objectives and strategies will be the focus of SDGFP fisheries staff over the next five years. Objective 1: Annually submit at least one major habitat project proposal for Rapid or Castle

Creek for funding.

Strategy 1.1: Initiate stream habitat mapping.

Strategy 1.2: Identify stream reaches where habitat projects could potentially improve fish sizes and numbers.

Strategy 1.3: Prioritize potential projects based on habitat and fish population surveys,

access availability, and public input.

Strategy 1.4: Collaborate with the USFS on permitting and possible funding.

Strategy 1.5: Involve NGOs and PAIs.

Strategy 1.6: Develop project proposals to include post-completion assessments, including cost-benefit analysis.

Strategy 1.7: Submit project for funding as part of the GFP capital development budget.

Objective 2: By December 2017, investigate brown trout population changes over time in

Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir.

Strategy 2.1: Complete review of peer-reviewed and gray literature. Strategy 2.2: Conduct fish population surveys. Strategy 2.3: Identify potential factors affecting brown trout populations.


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Strategy 2.4: Change stream classification if warranted. Strategy 2.5: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if

deemed appropriate. Strategy 2.6: Disseminate research information to the public using old media, new

media, open houses, and presentations to angler groups.

Objective 3: By December 2017, identify critical brown trout spawning areas.

Strategy 3.1: Conduct a literature review on redd survey techniques and methods to determine redd success.

Strategy 3.2: Conduct redd surveys. Strategy 3.3: Create a map containing redd locations, including reproductive success. Strategy 3.4: Include findings in Statewide Fisheries Reports. Strategy 3.5: Disseminate research information to the public using old media, new

media, open houses, and presentations to angler groups. Strategy 3.6: Use spawning location information when making decisions on potential in-

stream habitat work or when working towards Best Management Practices in surrounding riparian areas.

Objective 4: By December 2017, evaluate the effects of Rapid Creek special regulations.

Strategy 4.1: Review literature. Strategy 4.2: Consult university researchers and other staff. Strategy 4.3: Evaluate the need for a controlled experiment to assess the effectiveness

of special regulations. Strategy 4.4: Conduct fish population surveys in areas under special management and

areas under standard harvest regulations. Strategy 4.5: Statistically analyze data. Strategy 4.6: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if


media, open houses, and presentations to angler groups, and solicit feedback for possible regulatory changes.


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Strategy 4.8: Based on research results and public input, recommend changes in

regulations if necessary. Objective 5: By December 2018, identify and begin implementing potential management

options in areas where iron deposits may limit fish populations.

Strategy 5.1: Review literature to ascertain the effects of iron on stream fisheries, potential remediation actions, and sampling methods for iron in flowing water.

Strategy 5.2: Identify stream reaches suspected of containing high levels of iron. Strategy 5.3: Determine sampling locations, times, and frequencies. Strategy 5.4: Determine where water samples will be analyzed and expected costs. Strategy 5.5: Analyze samples and identify reaches where iron exceeds 4.0 mg/L. Strategy 5.6: Conduct fish population surveys at identified reaches. Strategy 5.7: Statistically analyze data. Strategy 5.8: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if


media, open houses, and presentations to angler groups, and solicit feedback for possible management changes.


management if necessary. Objective 6: By December 2019, undertake and evaluate a habitat improvement project in the

catch and release area of Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam from the USGS gauging station downstream to Tamarack Gulch (approximately 2,500 feet of stream).

Strategy 6.1: Conduct pre-habitat project fish population surveys. Strategy 6.2: Complete habitat improvement project. Strategy 6.3: Conduct post-habitat project fish population surveys. Strategy 6.4: Determine if changes in fish populations occurred. Strategy 6.5: Conduct a cost-benefit analysis.


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Strategy 6.6: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if deemed appropriate.

Strategy 6.7: Disseminate information to the public using old media, new media, open

houses, and presentations to angler groups, and solicit feedback for possible future projects.

Objective 7: By December 2015 initiate rehabilitation of in-stream habitat structures altered

during high-water events in Rapid Creek in Rapid City

Strategy 7.1: Create a map showing the locations of all structures. Strategy 7.2: Determine the integrity of structures and estimate their effectiveness. Strategy 7.3: Create a prioritized list of structures in need of reconditioning. Strategy 7.4: Investigate possible funding sources. Strategy 7.5: Rehabilitate high priority structures by December 2019.

Objective 8: By December 2016, begin evaluating terrestrial predator effects on Rapid Creek

trout populations and determine if predator management is necessary. Strategy 8.1: Conduct a literature review.

Strategy 8.2: Working with university researchers, design an appropriate experiment to quantify survival rates of resident trout in reaches of Rapid Creek with, and without, predator block management.

Strategy 8.3: Collect data as per the experimental design. Strategy 8.4: Statistically analyze data. Strategy 8.5: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if

deemed appropriate. Strategy 8.6: Disseminate information to the public and solicit feedback for possible

future actions by Debember 2019. Objective 9: By December 2019, determine the extent of didymo annual coverage and

possible effects on fish populations in Rapid and Castle Creeks.

Strategy 9.1: Visually estimate and document didymo coverage throughout the growing season.

Strategy 9.2: Conduct yearly fish population surveys within and outside of affected

areas.


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Strategy 9.3: Use GIS to prepare a map with overlays of didymo coverage and fish

populations. Strategy 9.4: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if

deemed appropriate. Strategy 9.5: Disseminate information to the public using old media, new media, open

houses, and presentations to angler groups, and solicit feedback for possible future actions.

Strategy 9.6: Utilize the “Risk Potential for of the Aquatic Invasive Species

Didymosphenia geminata to Bloom in Selected Streams of the Black Hills, South Dakota” (James 2013) for possible implementation of mitigation efforts.

Objective 10: By December 2019, identify and acquire flows needed for naturalized trout

populations in Rapid Creek below Pactola Reservoir.

Strategy 10.1: Work with Bureau of Reclamation and other necessary entities to secure minimum flows (> 40 cfs) during critical periods (i.e. October-March).

Strategy 10.2: Pursue water rights.

Objective 11: By December 2019, reduce sedimentation and increase bank stabilization in

degraded areas of Rapid and Castle Creeks.

Strategy 11.1: Identify areas where sedimentation is of concern and bank stabilization is desired.

Strategy 11.2: Work with private landowners, NGOs, and other government entities.

Strategy 11.3: Develop proposals for bank stabilization projects. Strategy 11.4: Investigate possible funding sources, submit proposals for funding, and

complete projects as funding becomes available.

Objective 12: By December 2015, implement an evaluation of areas in Rapid Creek where supplemental rainbow trout stocking occurs on naturalized brown trout populations.

Strategy 12.1: Identify areas in Rapid Creek where supplemental stocking occurs Strategy 12.2: Compare naturalized brown trout population characteristics with areas

within a close proximity where rainbow trout stockings do not occur. Strategy 12.3: Consider discontinuation of stocking for a period of time (e.g. 2 years), if

warranted and evaluate changes in the naturalized brown trout population.


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Strategy 12.4: Adjust management strategy based on findings, if warranted, by December 2018.


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References James, D. A., S. H. Ranney, S. R. Chipps and B. D. Spindler. 2010a. Invertebrate composition

and abundance associated with Didymosphenia geminata in a montane stream. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 25: 235–241.

James, D. A., J. W. Wilhite, and S. R. Chipps. 2010b. Influence of Drought Conditions on Brown

Trout Biomass and Size Structure in the Black Hills, South Dakota. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 30: 791–798.

Longmire, C. L. 2015. Black Hills Fisheries Management: 2014 Angler Opinion Survey Results.

Report ID# HD-1-15.AMS. Pierre, SD: South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks. USGS (U.S Geological Survey). 2008. Water resource and stream flow data, 1943–2007.

Available: http://www.usgs.gov/. (January 2008).

Fisheries Management Plan for Black Hills Streams, 2015-2019 Spearfish Creek Watershed

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Spearfish Creek Watershed Description The Spearfish Creek watershed lies in the northwest corner of the BHFMA and covers approximately 133,999 acres. The Spearfish Creek Watershed is third largest amongst all the subunits within the BHFMA. The headwaters primarily consist of forested areas. Much of the land uses are for the production of forest products, however, grazing and mining occurs within the watershed. Homes reside along much of the primary watercourses and the town of Spearfish has its namesake stream flowing through it. Recently, Spearfish Creek has undergone two specific changes to its hydrologic management. In November of 2003, Homestake Mine ceased using water in Little Spearfish Creek allowing water to flow over Spearfish Falls for the first time in decades and enter Spearfish Creek. In conjunction with the release of water from Little Spearfish Creek, Homestake Mines also stopped taking water from Spearfish Creek at Savoy Intake allowing this water to continue downstream. These actions resulted in increased discharge in Spearfish Creek below Savoy intake and Little Spearfish Creek. In addition to the hydrologic changes, natural discharge has likely affected the fishery in Spearfish Creek. According to USGS flow data (available at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/sd/nwis), mean discharge for May in Spearfish Creek is 103 cfs, but between 2008 and 2012 the May average discharge has exceeded 130 cfs. Spearfish Creek has also experienced individual high flow events due to precipitation and snow melt. These events resulted in discharges as high as 664 cfs in 2008, 244 cfs in 2009, 234 cfs in 2010 and 543 cfs in 2011. These hydrologic events resulted in mobilization of large amounts of bed material causing changes to the morphology of the stream and redistributing habitat throughout the system. The deposition of rock and sediment from previous high flow years and runoff from Storm Atlas in 2013 eventually filled Maurice Intake. As a result of this, the City of Spearfish received FEMA funding to remove the deposition from the impounded area. These hydrologic events are often normal and necessary for the maintenance of habitat features within the stream (Poff et al. 1997; Norris and Thoms 1999) and riparian features which can have direct effects on fish habitat (Schlosser 1991; Kauffman et al. 1997). The effects of changed hydrology and high discharge events on the Spearfish Creek fishery were unknown and beginning in 2007, SDGFP began receiving mixed reports about the fishing in Spearfish Creek. Some anglers contended that the fish population was low since they were not catching many fish. However, other anglers claimed the fishing was good and reported high catch rates. The reports of poor fishing were cause for concern. Spearfish Creek had been sampled nearly every year for the past 20 years, but the number of sites was relatively small. Therefore, SDGFP intensively sampled Spearfish Creek to determine the status of the fishery and to evaluate management strategies currently in place. During the intensive survey in August and September 2008, brown trout populations were determined to exceed a Class I brown trout fishery (i.e. >150 fish >200 mm/surface acre; Erickson et al. 1993) in all but the headwaters of Spearfish Creek with stream segment averages as high as 68 fish >200 mm per 100 meter (m) of stream. Following 2008, SDGFP continued to receive mixed reports about the fishing in Spearfish Creek, so the creek was sampled intensively again in 2011. During the 2011 survey, brown trout populations were again exceeding a Class 1 brown trout fishery in all areas except


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the headwater section which averaged 100 adult brown trout per acre and 383 adult brook trout per acre. Stream Fisheries Management The majority of Spearfish Creek and its tributaries are managed as a wild trout (natural yield) fishery with standard regulations of a daily limit of five trout (in any combination) with one allowed 14 inches or longer. A one-mile reach of Spearfish Creek from the Maurice Intake upstream to the Hydro #2 building is managed with catch and release regulations for rainbow trout. Other trout species may be harvested according to standard regulations. This reach of Spearfish Creek is unique in that it contains the only known naturally reproducing rainbow trout population in the BHFMA capable of maintaining a class I rainbow trout (i.e. >25 fish >200 mm/surface acre; Erickson et al. 1993) fishery. Few fish stockings have occurred within the watershed since 1990. Savoy Weir in Spearfish Creek was stocked in 2005 and 2006 after completion of a renovation project. Iron Creek was last stocked with brook trout in 1997, and East Spearfish Creek was last stocked with brown trout in 2005. Stream Habitat Spearfish Creek through the canyon is unique in relation to other streams in the Black Hills. It is not dammed and natural spring flows provide adequate cold water year round supporting a wild trout fishery of brook, brown and rainbow trout. Past projects within the watershed include the dredging of Hanna Pond on East Spearfish Creek to improve the fishery and prevent downstream movement of sediments. Instream habitat work was completed between Maurice Intake and Hydro #2 to repair fish habitat damaged during a 1995 flood event. Instream habitat work occurred in Spearfish Creek in 1985 and 1999 in the city park. Savoy intake was renovated in 2007. This project provided an upstream pond for fishing, fish passage over the rock arch rapids, a parking lot and visitor trail. Yates pond was renovated in 2008 and Little Spearfish weir was redesigned to create access and improve the fishery. Maurice intake was dredged in 2014 to remove sediment from past storm events. Residential development along streams coupled with large unregulated storm events can alter habitat and stream hydrology within the canyon and through the City of Spearfish. Maintenance of past projects and watershed improvement projects are important to maintaining the quality of fishery.


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Table 1. Stream habitat projects within the Spearfish Creek Watershed, South Dakota. NA-Not available.

Location Year Miles Cost

Spearfish Creek, instream habitat, Painter

1996 0.25 NA

Spearfish Creek, Lookout and City Park 1997 0.5 $18,859

Spearfish Creek, Hydro #2 to Maurice 1999 0.5 $121,000

Spearfish Geochemistry study, SDSMT 2002 NA

NA

Savoy US14A structure, culvert, water right

2003 0.5 $35,000

Savoy intake rehab/rapids reconstruction 2007 5.0 $425,000

Stream Access Fishing access to creeks within the Spearfish Creek Watershed is plentiful due to a large portion of the watershed lying within public ownership. In addition, state laws also allow for access as long as users have legally entered a navigable stream (i.e. through public right of way or landowner permission) and remain in the watered area. Spearfish Creek is the second largest creek in the BHFMA and stream side access to the upper reaches is fairly easy and common where the creek parallels US Highway 85 and US Highway 14A. Lower Spearfish Creek also has excellent access as it flows through the city of Spearfish with ample parking opportunities throughout the city. Issues Information gained from a 2014 focus group of Black Hills stream anglers, public open house events, SDGFP staff, and the 2015 Black Hills Angler Survey (Longmire 2015) was used to identify management issues. Not surprisingly, many of the issues identified for the Sprearfish Creek watershed were identified for Black Hills streams or the BHFMA in general and are also included in those plans, while other issues were specific to the Spearfish Creek watershed.

1. Conflicting angler preferences require multiple management strategies. Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 2 and BHFMA Plan Issue 3

2. Angler compliance with existing regulations in the BHFMA is unknown.


3. Native fish populations might be negatively affected through habitat loss and fish introductions.

Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 7 and BHFMA Plan Issues 11 & 12

4. Factors affecting trout reproduction and recruitment are unknown for many streams. Issue is similar to Streams Plan Issue 20 and BHFMA Plan Issue 28


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5. The distribution and density of wild rainbow trout is unknown and may not be

encompassed by the special regulation area. 6. Density may be affecting trout growth. 7. The habitat needed by large trout may be lacking. 8. Information on trout movement within the watershed is lacking. 9. Changes in stream hydrology has changed in-stream habitat and may have influenced

fish populations. 10. Trout spawning areas and recruitment within the Yates Ponds are unknown.

Goal, Objectives, Strategies Goal: Manage Spearfish Creek for the long-term sustainable use and enjoyment The following Objectives and Strategies address many of the Issues identified for Spearfish Creek. Completing these Objectives and Strategies will be the focus of SDGFP fisheries staff over the next five years. Objective 1: Annually submit at least one major habitat project proposal for funding.

Strategy 1.1: Initiate stream habitat mapping.

Strategy 1.2: Identify stream reaches where habitat projects could potentially improve fish sizes and numbers.

Strategy 1.3: Prioritize potential projects based on habitat and fish population surveys,

access availability, and public input.

Strategy 1.4: Collaborate with the USFS on permitting and possible funding.

Strategy 1.5: Involve NGOs and PAIs.

Strategy 1.6: Develop project proposals to include post-completion assessments, including cost-benefit analysis.

Strategy 1.7: Submit project for funding as part of the GFP capital development budget.

Objective 2: By December 2018, document naturally-reproducing rainbow trout distribution and densities in Spearfish Creek.

Strategy 2.1: Conduct fish population surveys in established sites.


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Strategy 2.2: Conduct fish population surveys in new reaches, including tributaries.

Strategy 2.3: Create a map showing distribution and population densities. Strategy 2.4: Define the timing and location of future sampling efforts. Strategy 2.5: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if




regulations. Objective 3: By December 2019, evaluate the relationship between population density and fish

growth in Spearfish Creek.

Strategy 3.1: Conduct library research and write literature review. Strategy 3.2: Involve university researchers and other staff. Strategy 3.3: Create dataset from previous fish population surveys. Strategy 3.4: Collect additional data as needed. Strategy 3.5: Statistically analyze data. Strategy 3.6: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if




regulations.

Objective 4: By December 2019, conduct additional research on trout movement in Spearfish Creek and its tributaries.

Strategy 4.1: Review existing data to identify research needs.

Strategy 4.2: Conduct library research and write literature review. Strategy 4.3: Involve university researchers and other staff.


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Strategy 4.4: Prepare study proposal and research objectives. Strategy 4.5: Collect data. Strategy 4.6: Statistically analyze data. Strategy 4.7: Publish findings in Statewide Fisheries reports and other publications if



References Erickson, J., R. Koth and L. Vanderbush. 1993. 1993 Black Hills Streams Management Plan. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. F-21-R-26, Job 1, Pierre. Longmire, C. L. 2015. Black Hills Fisheries Management: 2014 Angler Opinion Survey Results.

Report ID# HD-1-15.AMS. Pierre, SD: South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks. Kauffman, J. B., R. L. Beschta, N. otting, and D. Lytjen. 1997. An ecological perspective of

riparian and stream restoration in the western United States. Fisheries 22:12–24. Norris, R. H., and M. C. Thoms. 1999. What is river health? Freshwater Biology 41:197–209. Poff, N. L., J. D. Allan, M. B. Bain, J. R. Karr, K. L. Prestgard, B. D. Richter, R. E. Sparks, and J.

C. Stromberg. 1997. The natural flow regime: a paradigm for river conservation and restoration. BioScience 47:769–784.

Schlosser, I. J. 1991. Stream fish ecology: a landscape perspective. BioScience 41:704-712.

Documents

Fisheries Management Plan for Black Hills Streams 2015 2019 · Three stream reach classifications were created (Table 1) based on the existing natural (wild) trout populations and